INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Microcredit Summit

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development who will represent her Department at the Microcredit Summit +5 being held in Washington from 10 to 13 November.

Clare Short: DFID will be represented at the Summit by its Chief Enterprise Development Adviser, David Stanton. We have also invited funding applications to enable prospective participants from developing countries to attend the event.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Business Improvement District

Brian Cotter: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of provisions to alter the voting majority relating to the proposed business improvement districts outlined in the draft Local Government Bill.

Nick Raynsford: The Transport, Local Government and the Regions Select Committee recommended that a threshold of two thirds of the number of businesses eligible to vote should vote in favour before a Business Improvement District proposal proceeds. A number of other proposals were also made during the consultation on the draft Local Government Bill. We have considered all the proposals that have been made and will announce our conclusions shortly.

Detrunking

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what additional monies will pass to the (a) shire counties and (b) unitary authorities on detrunking.

David Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.
	At the time responsibility for a road passes to a local authority (or very shortly after) it receives revenue funding for routine maintenance in the form of Special Grant under section 88B of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 and support for capital maintenance in the form of supplementary credit approvals. The value of this support is determined by a generalised engineering assessment, with allowance made for local factors such as type of road, level of traffic and the cost of winter maintenance.

Fire Facilities (East Sussex)

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many emergency calls were responded to by the fire brigade in each of the last five years in (a) East Sussex and (b) Eastbourne.

Nick Raynsford: The table contains information on incidents attended by East Sussex Fire Brigade for the last five years for which data are available. Incident data are not available below brigade area level.
	
		Fires
		
			  Total incidents All fires Primary fires(1) Secondary fires Chimney fires False alarms Special services(2) 
		
		
			 1996 13,232 4,609 2,467 1,726 416 5,481 3,142 
			 1997 13,304 4,266 2,484 1,514 268 6,021 3,017 
			 1998 12,517 4,006 2,619 1,145 242 5,565 2,946 
			 1999 13,286 4,737 2,957 1,560 220 5,351 3,198 
			 2000 14,290 4,845 3,013 1,603 229 5,720 3,725 
		
	
	(1) Including additional Xlate" call and heat and smoke damage incidents
	(2) Special service incidents related to financial years 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–2000 and 2000–01.

Fire Fatalities

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many lives were lost due to fires in (a) East Sussex and (b) Eastbourne in each of the last 20 years.

Nick Raynsford: The following table shows fatal casualties in fires attended by East Sussex Fire Brigade for the period 1982–2000. 2000 is the latest year for which data are available. Fire casualty figures by brigade area are not available prior to 1982. Data cannot be broken down below brigade area level.
	
		
			 Year Fatal casualties 
		
		
			 1982 6 
			 1983 12 
			 1984 15 
			 1985 13 
			 1986 15 
			 1987 11 
			 1988 7 
			 1989 9 
			 1990 15 
			 1991 16 
			 1992 15 
			 1993 10 
			 1994 5 
			 1995 9 
			 1996 9 
			 1997 11 
			 1998 11 
			 1999 5 
			 2000(3) 6 
		
	
	(3) Provisional

Fire Service Cover

David Heath: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what information he has (a) received and (b) requested from (i) chief fire officers and (ii) the Chief Inspector of Fire Brigades on their assessments of the adequacy of fire cover in fire authority areas during a firefighters' strike.

Nick Raynsford: The provision of MOD emergency fire cover has been planned centrally in consultation with the Chief Inspector of the Fire Service and locally in consultation with Chief Fire Officers to maximise the effectiveness of call-outs and the availability of a range of firefighting capabilities. The emergency cover would not replicate the firefighting capabilities of the Fire Service, but would aim to minimise the danger to human life. The command and operational structure for emergency cover has been designed to enable maximum flexibility and use of available resources, and there will be a continuous dialogue between the emergency services and Chief Fire Officers.

Fire Service Cover

David Heath: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what level of cross-border co-operation he anticipates between neighbouring fire authorities during a firefighters' strike.

Nick Raynsford: In the event of a firefighters' strike, the command and operational structure for emergency fire cover has been designed to enable maximum flexibility and use of available resources, whether from within a county or from assets deployed nearby in neighbouring counties. The fire crews will use a number of temporary stations across counties but the deployment of fire fighters will be based on the assessment by the military in consultation with others such as the police of how best to respond to an emergency in the quickest time possible. The extent to which retained firefighters continue to work will also be taken into account in determining how best to deploy military fire crews.

Homelessness

Tim Loughton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 21 October 2002, Official Report, column 61W, what recent guidance produced by his Department in connection with the Connexions service he has issued to homelessness agencies working with vulnerable young people; and on what date it was issued.

Barbara Roche: XWorking Together—Connexions and youth homelessness agencies" outlined effective models of developing the Connexions Personal Adviser role in partnership with homelessness agencies.
	The report was launched in October 2001 and has been distributed at conferences discussing youth homelessness issues since then.

Local Government Finance

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will introduce a mechanism for ensuring local government ring-fence monies for waste management as part of the new spending assessment.

Nick Raynsford: Our policy is to restrict ring-fencing to cases which are high priorities for Government and where we cannot achieve our policy goal by specifying output or outcome targets; any new ring-fenced grant schemes will also be time-limited. We will announce the results of the review of local government revenue grant distribution in early December. There may also be changes to waste management funding arrangements following detailed consideration of the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit's report on the subject.

Local Government Finance

Mark Hoban: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proportion of spending by (a) Hampshire county council, (b) Fareham borough council, (c) Durham county council, (d) Durham city council, (e) English county councils and (f) district councils was financed bycouncil tax payers in (i) 1997–98, (ii) 1998–99, (iii) 1999–2000, (iv) 2000–01 and (v) 2001–02.

Nick Raynsford: The proportion of revenue expenditure financed from the council tax for the above local authorities and class of authorities in the years 1997–98 to 2001–02 was:
	
		Income from council tax as a percentage of spending
		
			  1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 
		
		
			 Hampshire county council 32 33 35 34 33 
			 Fareham borough council 45 35 39 43 35 
			 Durham county council 23 25 24 24 23 
			 Durham city council 34 30 34 36 35 
			 English county councils 28 30 30 30 30 
			 English district councils 35 39 38 40 38 
		
	
	Source:
	1997–98 to 2000–01 Revenue Summary Returns. 2001–02 Budget Estimate Return

Local Government Finance

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the implications are for the detrunking programme of the local government finance formula grant distribution.

David Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.
	Decisions on which methodology is to be used for the local government finance formula grant distribution will not impact on the detrunking programme.

Park Homes

Dave Watts: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he will publish the report on the economics of the park homes industry.

Tony McNulty: I am pleased to announce today the publication of the research report on the economics of park homes and the park homes industry, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House. The report will help us consider options for reform, as part of our wider aim of addressing issues of concern to park home residents.

Public Utilities (Statutory Obligations)

David Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what powers he has to intervene where local authorities have failed to make public utilities comply with their statutory obligations.

Nick Raynsford: Any specific powers for the Secretary of State to intervene in such cases would be set out in the relevant legislation. Generally, enforcement of utilities' obligations is entirely a matter for the relevant regulatory body including, in some cases, local authorities.

Regional Assemblies

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the evidence used by his Department to support proposals for the devolution of powers and functions to elected regional assemblies.

Nick Raynsford: This information is set out in the regional governance White Paper XYour Region, Your Choice" (Cm 5511) as part of the rationale for the Government's proposals to give each English region the opportunity to choose whether to have an elected assembly. Elected regional assemblies will have real power and funding to improve the quality of life of people in their region—particularly by improving regional economic performance.
	Assemblies will have powers to make a difference in key areas such as jobs, transport, housing, culture and environment. And their block grant will give them much greater freedom to allocate spending according to regional priorities. This offers the prospect of tailored regional solutions to regional problems. It strikes a balance between those issues that are best dealt with at a regional level and those that are best dealt with at a national or a local level. Our proposals for elected assemblies in the English regions will bring decision-making closer to the people and make government more efficient, more effective and more accountable.
	The evidence base includes the information presented in XRegional Government in England: a preliminary review of literature and research findings" (published by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions in 2000). Other relevant documentation is included in the White Paper's bibliography (annex J). The Government's approach to determining which powers and functions should become the responsibility of elected regional assemblies is described in chapter 4 of the White Paper. Copies of the documents referred to are available in the Library.

Regional Government

Mark Hoban: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what powers exercised by central government will be devolved to the proposed regional assemblies.

Nick Raynsford: This information is fully set out in Chapter 4 of the regional governance White Paper XYour Region, Your Choice" (Cm 5511).

Residential Property Purchases

Andrew Love: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to extend the right of local authorities to purchase residential property on the open market; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: We have no plans to make any changes to the powers under which authorities can purchase existing housing outside their compulsory purchase powers.

Travellers

David Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on what discussions he has had with the LGA on travellers; and if he will make a statement on what policy options he has evaluated.

Nick Raynsford: Prior to the release of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Home Office joint Traveller statement of 5 July, the former Housing Minister met with representatives from the LGA to discuss the Government's proposed approach of linking enforcement powers to site provision.
	Officials from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will again meet with the LGA to discuss policy development issues in the light of the recently published research on the provision and condition of local authority Gypsy/Traveller sites in England.
	Copies of the research are available in the Library of the House.

PRIME MINISTER

Savings

James Clappison: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 23 October to the right hon. Member for Fylde, columns 267–68, if he will give the calculation behind his statement on the trend in the level of people's savings.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary gave to the right hon. Member for Fylde (Mr. Jack) today.

TREASURY

Amateur Sports Clubs

John Greenway: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many community amateur sports clubs (a) have applied and (b) are registered with the Inland Revenue for tax exemptions; and if he will list those registered.

John Healey: As at 25 October 2002, 334 clubs had applied for registration with the Inland Revenue as community amateur sports clubs. Of those, 126 had so far been registered. A list of those registered follows. The Inland Revenue will be publishing a monthly update of the list on its website.
	3D Dynamos Football Club
	Abercorn Sports Club
	Acton Reynald Cricket Club
	Annbank Angling Club
	Antrim Rugby Football and Ladies Hockey Club
	Ards Rugby Football Club
	Assheton Bowmen Archery Club
	Aylesbury Vale Seido Karate
	Badenoch Riding Club
	Bainsford Bowling Club
	Belfast Wado Karate Club
	Bishop Sutton Tennis Club
	Blaydon Rugby Football Club
	Boat of Garten Golf and Tennis Club
	Bough Beech Sailing Club
	Brigstock Cricket Club
	Bristol Croquet Club
	Bristol Orienteering Club
	Budleigh Salterton Cricket Club
	Bullmershe Gymnastics Club
	Carrickfergus Rugby Football Club
	Castle Cove Sailing Club
	Chester Le Street Town FC
	Chipping Campden Tennis Club
	Chorley Buccaneers American Football
	Cliftonville Cricket Club
	Clydesdale Cricket Club
	Criccieth Golf Club
	Cromer Marrams Bowls Club
	Crowstone and St. Saviours Lawn Tennis Club
	Cwmcarn United RFC
	Dalgety Bay Sailing Club
	Dedham Cricket Club
	Dinnington Rugby Union Football Club
	Donaghadee Sailing Club
	Doune Cricket Club
	Duddingston Golf Club
	Dulwich Runners AC
	Dunfermline Tennis and Bridge Club Ltd.
	Durham Amateur Rowing Club
	Eastcote Hockey and Badminton Club Ltd.
	Epping Archers
	Falkirk Indoor Bowling Club
	Fife Athletic Club
	Forth Corinthian Yacht Club
	Garleton Football Club
	Girton Golf Club (Cambridge) Ltd.
	Gordonians Hockey Club
	Grampian Speleological Group
	Grantown-on-Spey Golf Club
	Gravesend Sailing Club
	Haddington Rugby Football Club
	Hampton Junior Football Club
	Harborough Flyers Basketball Club
	Hawkwell Athletic Football Club
	Helensburgh Sailing Club
	Herne Bay Lawn Tennis Club
	Herne Bay Lifeguard and Swimming Club
	Heywood Sports AFC
	Highworth Tennis Club
	Hindsford Junior Football Club
	Hollowell Sailing Club
	Hook Norton Sports and Social Club
	Kingussie Golf Club
	Langtons Cricket Club
	Largs Golf Club
	Lisburn Rugby Football Club
	Llandudno Golf Club (Maesdu) Ltd.
	Llandudno Rugby Club Ltd.
	Lochaber Camanachd Club
	Lochaber Yacht Club
	Lochcarron Golf Club
	Lundin Sports Club
	Lympstone Sailing Club
	Mansfield Rugby Union Football Club
	Merioneth Yacht Club Ltd.
	Morriston Town AFC
	Newbury and Thatcham Hockey Club
	Nottingham Kayak Club
	Oldmeldrum Golf Club
	Parkside Raiders Junior Football Club
	Pendle Ski Club
	Peterborough City Rowing Club
	Peterculter Golf Club
	Pevensy Bay Sailing Club Ltd.
	Philadelphia Cricket Club
	Pirbright Tennis Club
	Porthmadog Golf Club
	Portishead Yacht and Sailing Club
	Prestatyn Cricket Club
	Prestwick Symington and Ayr Fort Community
	Tennis Club
	Rogate Bowling Club
	Rothley Ivanhoe Tennis Club
	Royal Solent Yacht Club
	Rye Harbour Sailing Club
	Salcombe Rugby Football Club
	Scarborough and District Indoor Bowls Club
	Sevenoaks Athletics Club
	Shipley Juniors AFC
	South Antrim Hockey Club
	South Northumberland Cricket Club
	St. Andrews Fencing Club
	St .Andrews Lawn Tennis Club
	St. Just Cricket Club
	Stanley Sports and Social (Cricket and Rugby League)
	Stone-In-Oxney Sports Club
	Strathpeffer Spa Golf Club
	Street Sub Aqua Club
	Sydenham Lawn Tennis Croquet Club Ltd.
	Taynuilt Golf Club
	Thames Ditton Cricket Club
	The Rough-Stuff Fellowship
	The Trojans Club
	Twinstead Cricket Club
	Victoria Hall Badminton Club
	Wealden Bowls Centre Ltd.
	Wessex Mountaineering Club
	West Bridgford Hockey Club
	West Kirby Sailing Club
	Western Baths Club
	White Roding Social and Sports Club
	Wigton Moor Junior AFC
	Wollaston Lawn Tennis Club
	Woodford Rugby Football Club
	York Railway Institute
	Yoxford Cricket Club

Aggregates Levy

Roy Beggs: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the causes of the change in aggregate sales since April;
	(2)  how much revenue Customs and Excise in Northern Ireland has raised directly as a result of the aggregates levy since the aggregates levy was introduced in April and how much revenue Customs and Excise in Northern Ireland forecast would be raised before the introduction of the aggregates levy;
	(3)  what action is being taken by Customs and Excise in Northern Ireland to combat non-payment of the aggregates levy on aggregate brought across the land border from the Republic of Ireland;
	(4)  if he will estimate the change in tonnes in aggregate sales in Northern Ireland since the introduction of the aggregates levy;
	(5)  if he will estimate the total weight of aggregate brought across the border from the Republic of Ireland to Northern Ireland without payment of aggregates levy since April.

John Healey: It is too early to assess the impact of the levy.
	No estimate has been made of the total weight of aggregate brought across the border from the Republic of Ireland to Northern Ireland without payment of aggregates levy since April. Aggregates levy is due at the point of first commercial exploitation in the UK and not at the point of import. Where it cannot be demonstrated that aggregate is from a levy-paid source, Customs will use their powers to recover the revenue due and impose penalties, where appropriate. The resources allocated to administering the levy in Northern Ireland take account of issues associated with the land boundary, and this resourcing will be subject to regular review.
	The revenue forecast for the aggregates levy is made for the UK as a whole, and is not available by devolved region; therefore, data on the aggregates levy revenue raised in Northern Ireland are not available. In total, the levy is forecast to raise #0.2 billion during 2002–03.

Budget 2002

Michael Howard: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 7 November 2001, Official Report, column 256W, and the assumption specified in paragraphs 2.30 and 2.52 of Budget 2002, what further assessment he has made of the start date for the current economic cycle, for the purpose of calculating the cyclically adjusted budget surplus or deficit; and what the calculations are on which that assumption is based.

Paul Boateng: The Treasury's methodology for assessing the economic cycle for the purpose of calculating cyclically-adjusted budget surpluses or deficits is set out in publication XFiscal policy: public finances and the cycle", HM Treasury, March 1999.
	An updated assessment will be provided in the forthcoming pre-Budget Report.

Credit Unions

Andrew Love: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with (a) credit unions and (b) financial services organisations regarding the establishment of a central services organisation for credit unions; and if he will make a statement

Ruth Kelly: Treasury Ministers have had a number of discussions with representatives from the credit union sector and financial services organisations regarding the establishment of a central services organisation since the idea was proposed by the Credit Unions Taskforce in November 1999.
	The Government believe that credit unions have an important role to play to encourage the accumulation of savings and help tackle financial exclusion. We continue to liaise with the movement and develop proposals to support its development. The establishment of a central services organisation is a project for the credit union movement to take forward. We understand that the Association of British Credit Unions Limited (ABCUL) is developing new plans to deliver some of the services that could have been provided through a central services organisation.

Cross-channel Smuggling

Jackie Lawrence: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action is being taken to tackle cross-channel smuggling; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: Tobacco smuggling grew very rapidly in the late 1990s until, by 2000–01, over 20 per cent. of the cigarette market was illicit. The cost of that tobacco smuggling to UK taxpayers was #3.5 billion. A further 6 per cent. of the market was legally non-tax paid product bought abroad and brought back for own use.
	The great majority of cigarette smuggling is undertaken by serious and organised criminals who conceal large volumes of cigarettes in excess of 1 million at a time in freight consignments. In 2000 a smaller proportion was smuggled by cross-channel passengers. However in that year the total cost of such passenger excise smuggling was still #1.7 billion.
	Had no action been taken over the past two years Customs and Excise estimate that the illicit share of the cigarette market would have reached 31 per cent. by the end of March 2002.
	Since the launch of the Tackling Tobacco Strategy in March 2000, Customs and Excise have been successful in containing growth in the illicit cigarette market, disrupted over 100 organised crime gangs responsible for the vast majority of the smuggling, and have had dramatic success in cutting losses from cross-channel passenger smuggling by almost three-quarters. Figures for 2001–02, the second year of this strategy, will be published at the time of the pre-Budget report and I anticipate they will show that the strategy remains on track. In the same period consumer expenditure on legitimate cross-border shopping for alcohol and tobacco has grown by 10 per cent.
	In 2000–01 Customs seized 2.8 billion cigarettes. Of these, 0.9 billion were seized overseas through the work of the Customs Overseas Liaison Officer network, a further 1.2 billion were seized in freight consignments, 400 million were seized inland and 55 million were seized at the ports from cross-channel passenger smugglers.
	The sole focus of Customs excise enforcement activity in respect of cross-channel passenger traffic is to tackle those who smuggle tobacco or alcohol, having received or intending to receive money or money's worth for those goods. The Government have consistently made clear that people are entitled to bring into the UK without liability to tax as much EU tax-paid tobacco or alcohol as they wish for their own use. Customs literature also makes this clear.
	Just one-tenth of 1 per cent. of those who have crossed the channel in the past two years have had tobacco or alcohol seized by Customs. Since the start of the strategy, the average quantity seized by Customs from cross-channel passenger smugglers was approximately 4,900 cigarettes and 15 kilos of hand rolling tobacco (equivalent to at least 18,000 cigarettes).
	Of the 0.1 per cent. of cross-channel passengers who had tobacco or alcohol seized in the years 2000–01 and 2001–02 over 75 per cent. chose not to make any sort of appeal against that seizure. Of those that did appeal, magistrates courts overwhelmingly backed the judgments made by Customs, and found against Customs in less than 0.1 per cent. of cases, and only 1 per cent. of cases were either overturned or restored by a Customs review officer or by an independent tribunal.
	Building on the success of the Budget 2000 anti-smuggling measures, I am today announcing the next stage of the Tackling Tobacco Strategy. Despite cross-channel tobacco smuggling having been cut by around three-quarters in the past two years, smugglers are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their attempts to blend in with honest shoppers. So the measures I am announcing today will help make the distinction between smugglers and honest shoppers even clearer. The measures make clear that Customs activity is legal and fair but tough upon those who attempt to smuggle. It comprises the following components:
	Regulations will be laid before Parliament today to abolish the 1992 Personal Reliefs Order and replace it with new provisions that:
	effectively define shopping and smuggling, specify the factors Customs will take into account in distinguishing one from the other and place the onus for that decision upon Customs;
	reaffirm that all Customs stops are lawful and those for excise specific purposes based on reasonable grounds for suspicion;
	increase the Indicative Levels for tobacco from 800 to 3,200 cigarettes and from 1 to 3kgs of hand rolling tobacco, representing around six-months supply for an average smoker. Those bringing back larger quantities of tobacco must expect, if asked, to explain how it is that such goods are for their own use. Customs will continue to seize quantities below these levels as well as above them where they are satisfied that those goods are intended for resale or other exchange for money or money's worth.
	In addition, the announcements I am making today will confirm that:
	Vehicles used to smuggle tobacco or alcohol will continue to be liable to seizure but for small first offences Customs will offer restoration of the vehicle for the value of the attempted revenue evasion. Those who use vehicles to smuggle on a large scale or a repeat basis will not be offered such an opportunity and must expect to lose their vehicles.
	A new clearer guide to appealing/complaining is being published by Customs today and will be given to all those who have goods seized or wish to complain about Customs behaviour towards them.
	I have asked Customs to undertake, in conjunction with the Lord Chancellor's Department, a review of the present appeals structure and to present proposals for streamlining and simplifying these arrangements to me by the end of January 2003. The Terms of Reference will be available today in the Library of the House and on the Customs website (), together with details for submitting contributions.
	Having brought cross-channel passenger smuggling under control the Government is determined that it should remain so. To this end, Customs expect to conduct an increased number of prosecutions against large scale and serial cross-channel passenger smugglers.
	Violence against Customs officers in the course of carrying out their duties will not be tolerated under any circumstances. Customs will toughen their policy and prosecute anyone who perpetrates serious assaults on staff.
	This set of measures provides the public with a clear guide to their right to shop for alcohol or tobacco for their own use within the EU and to the consequences for those who attempt to evade tax in bringing in such goods having received or intending to receive money or money's worth for some or all of them. It will also enable Customs to continue to prevent the smuggling of tobacco or alcohol and the disorder which accompanies such smuggling from ruining the enjoyment of honest cross-border shoppers. It will also enable Customs to prevent the smugglers from undermining the UK economy in alcohol or tobacco products and from depriving our public services of essential tax revenues. Customs will act fairly and in accordance with the law but they will also act firmly and with the full weight of sanctions against those who break the law.

Euro Payments

Gordon Prentice: To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent estimate he has made of the number of retail businesses that accept the euro in payment for goods and services.

Ruth Kelly: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Harlow (Mr. Rammell) on 13 June, Official Report, column 1396W.

European Central Bank

Andrew Love: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on progress towards reform of the arrangements for the control of inflation of the European Central Bank.

Ruth Kelly: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 15 January 2002, Official Report, column 231W.

National Changeover Plan

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the cost of the National Changeover Plan to date; what the money has been spent on; and what further expenditure is planned.

Ruth Kelly: Details of expenditure on changeover planning were included in the Sixth Report on Euro Preparations, published on 18 July 2002. Copies of the report are in the Library of the House.

Private Pension Schemes

Michael Jack: To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was put into private pension schemes of all types in each of the last five years, per head of the working population.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Mr. L Cook to Mr. Michael Jack, dated 29 October 2002
	.
	Following the publication of the Review of Pension Contribution Statistics on 10 October the estimated value of contributions to private pension schemes over the last five years in # billion are:
	
		
			 Year Value of contributions 
		
		
			 1997 33.1 
			 1998 37.3 
			 1999 42.3 
			 2000 47.5 
			 2001 (4)49.9 
		
	
	(4) Data for 2001 are provisional. They are based on quarterly estimates and include a National Accounts coherence adjustment.
	These figures are consistent with those published in Annex B, Table 1 on pages 31 and 32 of the Review, a copy of which is attached. They include net contributions to funded occupational schemes, individual and employer contributions to individual/personal pensions and also the employee contributions to unfounded and notionally funded schemes.
	The components are shown as follows The row detail refer to Annex B, table 1 of the Review of Pension Contribution Statistics:
	
		# million 
		
			 Year Contributions to individual and personal pensions(5) Contributions to unfounded and notionally funded schemes(6) Contributions to occupational pensions (self administered and insurance managed(7) Total  
		
		
			 1997 8,200 2,801 22,051 33,052 
			 1998 9,000 2,715 25,603 37,318 
			 1999 9,400 3,024 29,874 42,298 
			 2000 10,300 3,472 33,741 47,513 
			 2001(8) 11,600 3,912 34,374 49,886 
		
	
	(5) Row M
	(6) Employee's part of row L
	(7) Row I + row K
	(8) Data for 2001 are provisional. They are based on quarterly estimates and include a National Accounts coherence adjustment.
	Estimates of the total working population have been taken from Labour Market Statistics issued in October. These estimates cover employed and self-employed persons and include part time employees and represent the position at April. They are the average of the four quarters in each of the five years. The totals, in thousands, are:
	
		
			 Year Number of people employed 
		
		
			 1997 26,663 
			 1998 27,044 
			 1999 27,465 
			 2000 27,830 
			 2001 28,090 
		
	
	To the nearest #10, the contributions per head of the total working population are:
	
		# per year 
		
			 Year Value of contribution 
		
		
			 1997 1,240  
			 1998 1,380  
			 1999 1,540  
			 2000 1,710  
			 2001 1,780

Public and Employers' Liability Insurance

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of changes in the ability of employers to obtain public and employers' liability insurance.

Ruth Kelly: The Government are aware of recent increases in premiums for public and employers' liability insurance, and is monitoring the situation closely.

Public Service Agreements

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact that the level of public sector pay settlements is having on the money available to meet the targets set out in public service agreements.

Paul Boateng: Departments are responsible for ensuring that targets are delivered within the budgets which have been set.

Small Businesses

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with the Confederation of British Industry regarding the position of small businesses.

Dawn Primarolo: Treasury Ministers meet regularly with business leaders and others to discuss a wide range of topics.

Tax Receipts

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the expected outturn for tax receipts for 2002–03.

Dawn Primarolo: Consistent with the Code for Fiscal Stability, an interim update of projections for the public finances will be published in the forthcoming pre-Budget Report.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Departmental Vehicles

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many vehicles she and her Ministers have access to, broken down by vehicle type; what the annual operating costs are for the last three financial years; how much it costs to convert a car so it is suitable for a Minister; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: Four cars are accessible to Ministers in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport as follows:
	Vauxhall Omega Elite;
	Vauxhall Vectra GLS; and
	two Ford Mondeo Zetec's.
	The annual operating cost for the past three years are:
	
		# 
		
			  April 2000 to March 2001 April 2001 to March 2002 April 2002 to March 2003 
			 Secretary of State 61,028 62,700 67,620 
			 Minister 48,497 50,145 51,148 
			 Minister 57,705 59,292 55,258 
			 Minister 56,763 50,145 51,216 
		
	
	The cost of converting a car to enable it to be suitable for a Minister is #510.

Draft Communications Bill

James Purnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she plans to publish the Government's response to the Joint Committee on the Draft Communications Bill.

Tessa Jowell: With my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, I have pleasure to inform the House that the Government's formal response to the Joint Committee on the Draft Communications Bill will be published this afternoon. I would also like to express my gratitude to Lord Puttnam and his committee for their valuable contribution to our preparations of the Communications Bill.

Drug Testing

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many tests for EPO have been conducted in the UK during (a) the Commonwealth Games and (b) other sporting events; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: The anti-doping programme in the UK is delivered through the national anti-doping organisation, UK Sport. In addition, UK Sport was contracted by the Commonwealth Games Federation in conjunction with Manchester 2002 (the organising committee for the 2002 Commonwealth Games) to manage the anti-doping programme over the Games period.
	UK Sport has confirmed that during the Commonwealth Games it conducted 16 tests for erythropoietin (EPO). The other sporting events where UK Sport has conducted EPO testing have been the 2002 London Marathon, where 16 EPO tests were undertaken, and the World Half Marathon, which took place in Bristol in October 2001, where five EPO tests were undertaken.

Firefighters' Strike

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what preparations she has made to ensure the safety and continuity of service to the public in the event of a firefighters' strike; and what the cost is to the Department of these actions.

Kim Howells: DCMS staff are fully trained in fire safety, and have been reminded of the need for greater care and vigilance in the event of a firefighters' strike. This measure, which will ensure the continuity of services operated directly from DCMS, has been achieved at no additional cost to the annual administration budget. The majority of our services are provided through the Department's NDPBs, who are responsible for making their own provisions for ensuring business continuity in the event of a firefighters' strike.

ITV Digital

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations she has received from football clubs over the collapse of ITV Digital; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I have received 31 representations from Football League clubs on this issue.

Sport England

John Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to her answer of 26 September 2002, Official Report, column 131W, on Sport England, if she will list the projections for UK Sport's income from the National Lottery for (a) 2002–03, (b) 2003–04, (c) 2004–05 and (d) 2005–06.

Richard Caborn: The projected income for UK Sport from the National Lottery, based on the most recent forecast figures provided to the Lottery Distributors, excluding interest, is shown in the table.
	
		# million 
		
			  2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 
		
		
			 UK Sport 20.732 20.318 20.318 20.318

DEFENCE

Beef Supplies

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of the beef supply contracts for the Ministry of Defence and its agencies are sourced from Scottish herds.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 24 October 2002
	I can confirm that 50% of the beef and beef products purchased for consumption by the armed forces in the United Kingdom is British. Of that total, in the past 12 months, 53 per cent. came from Scottish herds.

Chinook Helicopters

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the six Chinook MSH/HC2A and eight Chinook MSH/HC3 ordered by his Department in 1995 will enter service with the RAF.

Adam Ingram: The six Chinook MSH/HC2A entered RAF service in 2000.
	On current plans, it is intended that the RAF will begin to fly the Chinook MSH/HC3 from the end of 2003.

Civil Service Pay

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 22 October 2002, Official Report, column 151W, if he will estimate the annual increases in pay for Ministry of Defence non-industrial civil servants working only in his Department, excluding agencies and non-departmental public bodies, for each year from 2001–02 to 2005–06; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: The figures are listed in the table:
	
		
			  Percentage increase to paybill of non-industrial staff 
		
		
			 2002 3.2 
			 2003 3.1 
			 2004 3.1 
			 2005 3.1

Continuous Attitude Survey

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel in the (a) Army, (b) RAF and (c) Royal Navy answered the last Continuous Attitude Survey; and what proportion of the service members in each service this represents.

Adam Ingram: The number of personnel that responded to the last Continuous Attitude Survey for each Service is set out in the table.
	
		
			  Number responding Proportion of personnel (percentage) 
		
		
			 Naval Service 957 2 
			 Army 1,867 1.9 
			 RAF 1,182 2.4 
		
	
	Note:
	Based on trained strength figures for the United Kingdom regulars as at 1 September 2002.

Defence Logistics Organisation

David Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the McKinsey report on the future strategy for the Defence Logistics Organisation.

Adam Ingram: We have no plans to publish the joint McKinsey/Ministry of Defence report.

Discharged Service Personnel

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel have been (a) discharged and (b) retired early from the RAF after being in service in (i) Sierra Leone, (ii) Saif Sareea, (iii) Afghanistan, (iv) Kosovo and (v) Macedonia as a direct result of their involvement in the deployments; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The detailed information requested is not held centrally and cannot be determined from individual personnel records without incurring disproportionate cost and effort. There are no recorded instances of RAF personnel being medically discharged as a direct result of disabilities sustained during service in the named theatres of operation.

Fire Services

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if (a) MoD Fire Service appliances and (b) QinetiQ fire appliances from Boscombe Down will be deployed to provide fire service cover to the civilian community.

Adam Ingram: Ownership of all fire service appliances at Boscombe Down was transferred to QinetiQ in 2001. The fire fighting capabilities at Boscombe Down are tailored to meet the primary need to provide emergency support to the airfield at the site and to support QinetiQ's activities. Although QinetiQ's fire service may be able to assist in response to emergency calls elsewhere in circumstances where their primary responsibility was not put at risk, this cannot be guaranteed.

Fire Services

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Green Goddess fire engines will be deployed in Salisbury constituency; how many service personnel will man each appliance; and from what duties they have been withdrawn to provide fire service cover.

Adam Ingram: One Green Goddess fire engine will be based in Salisbury. The command structure is designed to ensure flexibility when deploying emergency fire cover, and where necessary resources may be deployed from adjacent areas.
	Each Green Goddess has a crew of six per shift, with two shifts, each of 12 hours, providing 24-hour cover. The personnel involved may be withdrawn from a variety of other duties, depending on changing circumstances.

Fire Services

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many fire service vehicles there are at Norton Manor Camp; and what fire service appliances kept at Norton Manor Camp will be deployed to provide fire service cover to the civilian community.

Adam Ingram: There are no emergency fire service vehicles at Norton Manor Camp and there are currently no plans to deploy any emergency fire cover from there. However, a range of fire fighting capabilities, including breathing apparatus and heavy cutting capability will operate from Taunton TA Centre nearby.
	It is intended to use all available resources in a flexible manner to provide the most appropriate cover. Where necessary, resources may be deployed from adjacent areas.

Fire Services

John Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, in the event of a firefighters' strike, what disposition of service personnel and Green Goddesses will be made for the protection of the people and their property in the Solihull constituency; and where they will be stationed.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 28 October 2002
	Emergency cover in Solihull, as in the rest of the country, will consist of a number of elements including Green Goddess crews, breathing apparatus teams, rescue teams (equipped with specialist equipment) and the police. The provision of Ministry of Defence emergency fire cover has been planned in consultation with the Chief Fire Officer and local police to minimise call-out times and maximise the availability of the range of firefighting capabilities.
	Temporary fire stations will be located at the Police Traffic Centre, Aston, and the Police Training Centre, Pershore Road. Each location will have three Green Goddess appliances and one Specialist Breathing Apparatus Rescue Team. The Operational Control Centre, based at Bournville, will be responsible for co-ordinating emergency response in the quickest time possible, either through the deployment of these assets, or by requesting assistance from other areas.

First World War

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received asking him to review the cases of soldiers who were shot for cowardice during the First World War; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: In the last six months I have received six representations from hon. and right hon. Members and 22 from members of the public on this issue.
	As the House has been told on previous occasions, my right hon. Friend the then Minister of State for the Armed Forces, Dr. Reid, examined this matter in great detail and with deep care and concern. There are considerable legal difficulties in considering pardons, particularly the lack of evidence available today, and all these points were explained in my right hon. Friend's statement to this House on 24 July 1998, Official Report, columns 1372–86.
	While there are, I am afraid, no grounds to reconsider this matter, it is important that we do not overlook the very important steps that have been taken to recognise these men as victims of the war, and to draw them and their families into the nation's consciousness and remembrance. The public commemoration of these men in the new memorial in National Memorial Arboretum is very fitting.

Gulf War Veterans

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Gulf War veterans from the Twickenham constituency have been seen by the Gulf Veterans' Medical Assessment Programme; how many of these were assessed; how many were assessed as having a cancer; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: As at 18 October 3,334 patients have attended the Gulf Veterans' Medical Assessment Programme (GVMAP), and of these, three Gulf veterans were recorded as living in the Twickenham constituency. None were assessed as having a cancer.
	The clinical findings for 3,000 Service and ex-Service patients who attended the GVMAP in the period between 11 October 1993 and 18 June 2001 was published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine on 1 October 2002. The paper found that 75 per cent. of the 3,000 patients seen were well at the time of attendance. The authors found no unusual pattern of disease among patients attending over time.

International Interoperability Council

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the membership of the International Interoperability Council is; what its objectives are; and if he will make a statement on its method of proceeding.

Geoff Hoon: I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the Multinational Interoperability Council (MIC) which comprises Australia, Canada, France, Germany, United Kingdom and the United States of America. The objectives of the MIC are to identify interoperability issues and to articulate actions which, if implemented pan-nationally, would contribute to more effective coalition operations. The work of the MIC is principally conducted by means of Working Groups. Further information on the MIC is available at www.c3i.osd.mil/org/c3is/ccbm/mic.html.

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the annual cost of implementing the no-fly zones over northern and southern Iraq since RAF military overflights began; how many bombs have been dropped on Iraq by British aircraft over this period; and what United Nations resolutions give authority for the policing of the no-fly zone.

Adam Ingram: Our records do not separately identify expenditure incurred in maintaining the no-fly zones. However, the table sets out the overall additional expenditure incurred by the Ministry of Defence as a direct result of operations in the Gulf from 1992–93 onwards.
	
		#million 
		
			  Additional expenditure 
		
		
			 1992–93 551 
			 1993–94 179 
			 1994–95 58 
			 1995–96 14 
			 1996–97 6 
			 1997–98 16 
			 1998–99 35 
			 1999–2000 28 
			 2000–01 25 
			 2001–02(9) 22(10)  
		
	
	(9) Estimate.
	(10) Calculated on a resource basis; all previous figures are cash-based.
	The Royal Air Force aircraft patrolling the Iraqi no-fly zones had dropped 318 bombs during this period (to 30 September 2002), 52 of those weapons were released during Operation Desert Fox.
	The Royal Air Force patrol the Iraqi no-fly zones in support of UN SCR 688, which demanded an end to Saddam's brutal repression of its own people.

Medical Negligence Claims

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many medical negligence claims were received by his Department in (a) 2000–01, (b) 2001–02 and (c) 2002 to date; how many complaints in (i) 2000, (ii) 2001 and (iii) 2002 resulted in compensation being paid; how much compensation was paid in each year; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: The number of claims received for alleged clinical negligence together with the amount of common law compensation paid in 2000–01, 2001–02 and between 1 April to 23 October 2002 was as follows:
	
		
			  Clinical negligence claims received Number of claims settled Compensation paid including claimants' legal costs (#) 
		
		
			 2000–01 128 79 10,617,263 
			 2001–02 142 59 8,924,255 
			 2002–03(11) 78 26 6,427,000 
		
	
	(11) 1 April to 23 October 2002
	When compensation claims are submitted, they are considered on the basis of whether or not the Ministry of Defence has a legal liability to pay compensation. Where there is a legal liability to pay compensation, we do so. Most claims are settled amicably on a legal liability basis without recourse to the courts. The payment of compensation does not necessarily occur in the financial year that the claim was received.
	A record of complaints from Service personnel and their families alleging medical negligence is kept only for those cases where compensation is being sought.

Military Trucks

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the companies which have submitted bids for the military trucks contract; and when an announcement on the award of the contract will be made.

Lewis Moonie: Bids for the military trucks contract were received from four companies—MAN UK Truck & Bus Limited, Mercedes-Benz UK Limited, Oshkosh Truck Corporation and Stewart & Stevenson Services Inc. An announcement on the award of the contract will be made at contract placement in late 2003.

Network-centric Capability (Armed Forces)

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures his Department is taking to enhance the network-centric capability of the armed forces.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 28 October 2002
	As we stated in the Strategic Defence Review New Chapter, the key to delivering networked capabilities is the ability to collect, fuse and disseminate accurate, timely and relevant information to deliver improved situational awareness—a shared understanding of the battlespace among commanders at all levels. We are already committed to investment in a range of sensor capabilities such as Nimrod MRA4, ASTOR and RAPTOR and communications systems such as SKYNET 5, BOWMAN, FALCON and tactical datalinks—part of the backbone of our network infrastructure. We are also investing in information processing applications that will enhance our capability to collate, analyse and control the distribution of information within the network. As part of the New Chapter we announced a number of early capability enhancements that will help improve situational awareness, for example, an extra Mission Console for the E3-D and advancing the WATCHKEEPER Surveillance UAV programme.

Nuclear Weapons

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent (Llew Smith), Official Report, 15 October 2002, column 547W, on nuclear weapons, if he will estimate the size of the credits payable to the UK under the 1998 MOU.

Lewis Moonie: The size of the credits payable to the United Kingdom under the 1998 MOU total $47 million, based on fiscal year 1999 constant dollars.

Partnered Defence Supply Chain

David Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the employment implications of the Partnered Defence Supply Chain Initiative; and when he will be able to inform the House.

Adam Ingram: The Defence Logistics Organisation has challenging targets to reduce costs whilst improving the quality of logistics support to the Front Line. As part of this, the Partnered Defence Supply Chain Initiative is seeking to assess the risks and opportunities of increased levels of commercial participation in managing and operating the Defence Physical Supply Chain. This analysis has only just commenced therefore it is too early to ascertain what potential employment implications there could be. I will inform the House of the results of the current initial assessment, anticipated to be complete in the middle of next year.

Pension and Compensation Arrangements

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to publish proposals on armed forces pension and compensation arrangements; and what consultation process he envisages following such publication.

Adam Ingram: Proposals on the new Armed Forces Pension Scheme and Compensation Scheme were published in March 2001. The formal consultations took place between March 2001 and July 2001, although they were informally extended to October 2001 to admit some late replies. In parallel, discussion groups took place at Service units throughout the country and discussions were also held with ex-Service organisations, such as the Royal British Legion and Forces Pension Society. The final proposals are currently being staffed for final approval by Ministers. These proposals have taken account of the comments received during the consultation process, the recommendations of the House of Commons Defence Committee, and discussions with the ex-Service community. Subject to approval around the turn of the year, the final details of the schemes and a report on the consultations will be published early next year.

Puma (Tenders)

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what actions he took to obtain tenders for the refurbishment of six ex-Republic of South Africa SA330 Puma aircraft before announcing his intention to place the main structural contract with Eurocopter of France; and what steps he took to ascertain what other companies were capable of undertaking this work.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 28 October 2002
	The ex-Republic of South Africa Air Puma helicopters were procured to supplement the existing Ministry of Defence Puma fleet. Because the aircraft had not flown for over five years, and their previous usage spectrum was unknown, it was essential to ensure that the airworthiness and structural integrity of the aircraft could be adequately assured. Options for effecting the refurbishment of the aircraft to the same standard as the existing fleet were evaluated. It was assessed that Eurocopter, the design authority for the Puma, was the only company with the necessary knowledge of, and competences in, the structural load paths of the Puma to be able to act as a prime contractor. As a result, an entry was placed in the MOD Contracts Bulletin notifying that the work would be placed with Eurocopter, while encouraging Eurocopter to maximise sub-contractor opportunities.

RAF Innsworth

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to reduce the number of civilians employed at RAF Innsworth; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: A wide-ranging review, PTC 2002, was initiated last year. Its aim was to optimise management processes and structures to support operational capabilities in a more timely, efficient and cost-effective manner. PTC 2002 reported in April this year, and recommended a rationalised HQ structure.
	A formal evaluation to validate the revised structure is currently being undertaken. However, the latest available figures indicate that there will be a reduction of around 180 posts across PTC (140 civilian (non-industrial) posts and 40 service posts). We estimate that civilian reductions at RAF Innsworth will be in the region of 50, with the remainder 90 occurring at other PTC stations. We intend that all manpower reductions will be effected through natural wastage.

Rapid Deployment Force

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the UK contribution to the proposed NATO rapid deployment force unit will be; and if he will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: The NATO Response Force (NRF) concept is currently being discussed within the Alliance, with the guiding principles expected to be put before Heads of State and Government at the November 2002 NATO Summit in Prague for their agreement. While it is premature to discuss what the United Kingdom's precise contribution will be, the UK strongly supports the NRF concept as a means of optimising the utility of the NATO Force Structure across the range of missions. We can therefore anticipate that the UK led Headquarters of the Allied Command Europe Rapid Reaction Corps, the United Kingdom Maritime Force and our contribution to NATO Readiness Forces (Air), will form the basis of our participation in the NRF.

Thefts

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if, pursuant to his answer of 15 October 2002, Official Report, column 548W, he will assign monetary values to each of the items (a) to (e).

Adam Ingram: I will write to my hon. Friend, and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Vaccination

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what vaccination programmes for UK armed forces are (a) under way and (b) planned in advance of possible military action in Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 24 October 2002
	Regular and reserve forces personnel are offered immunisations as part of an established vaccination programme. Members of the regular forces are given routine vaccinations, with immunity being maintained by the administration of regular boosters. Reservists at high readiness for deployment also have their immunity maintained at a similar level by routine booster immunisations. All other reserve forces personnel receive a lesser number of routine immunisations with additional vaccinations, and any necessary boosters, being administered upon an increase to a high readiness state. In advance of overseas deployment, any personnel deploying to areas with a specific health hazard, and those in special occupational risk groups (such as medical personnel), may also be given additional vaccinations before deployment. It is the responsibility of Commanding Officers to ensure that personnel are up to date with the appropriate immunisations. Units should also carry out pre deployment checks of vaccination states. Immunisation also forms part of the package of capabilities which protects our troops from, and enables them to respond effectively to, the threat of biological warfare. Since May 2001, personnel deploying on operations to the Gulf and in specialist NEC units have been included in our programme of voluntary immunisation against anthrax. We have since expanded this programme; I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence gave on 3 June 2002, Official Report, column 1343–44W, to my hon. Friend the Member for High Peak (Mr. Levitt).

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Local Education Authority Funding

Dave Watts: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children aged between four and 18 years are in schools in local education authorities; if she will list the funding allocated to each school under her Department's proposed options; and if she will publish the deprivation allocation from additional educational needs under the Government's options (a) with and (b) without any ethnicity-weighting factor.

David Miliband: There were 7,438,964 pupils between 4 and 18 in maintained schools in local education authorities recorded in the most recent annual schools census. It is not possible to identify the funding allocated to each school under the options set out in the consultation paper on Local Government Finance issued on 8 July: that would depend on decisions to be taken by LEAs on their formulae for distributing funding to their schools. The amounts of funding distributed for additional educational needs, and within that for ethnicity and English as an additional language (EAL), under each of the four consultation options is set out in the table below:
	
		
			 Funding for 2002–03 Option 1 Option 2 Option 3 Option4 
		
		
			 Deprivation Funding (#m) 4,880 4,118 4,940 4,006 
			 Ethnicity/EAL Funding (#m) 600 421 600 431 
		
	
	The levels of funding in these options are based on research from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). If an alternative method of funding AEN were used, it would be necessary to consider how it could fit with the evidence from the PwC study, which associated substantial costs with the incidence of EAL.

A Levels

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what representations he has received since August on the future of A Levels.

David Miliband: The Secretary of State has received a number of suggestions that AS Levels be abolished, and that a baccalaureate type system be introduced in place of A Levels.

A Levels

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimates she has made of the cost of this year's A-level regrading to her Department.

David Miliband: We have made it clear that universities and higher education colleges will not suffer financial disadvantage as a result of changes to student numbers due to A level regrading. It is, however, too early to determine how much funding individual institutions might need, but the costs are not likely to be high given the relatively small number of students affected.
	The A level claims Fund has been established to meet the legitimate costs of students who are able to transfer and students have until 31 January 2003 to apply. The Fund can meet accommodation, books, travel and where necessary tuition fees. We expect the costs falling to the Fund to be small.
	A maximum of #105,000 has been set aside for Mike Tomlinson's Inquiry.

A Levels

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the implications of the admission of downgraded A-level students to university for the admission of (a) other EU and (b) overseas students.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 15 October 2002
	All of the 168 UCAS applicants who, as a result of regrading of their A-levels, may now have the necessary grades to make them eligible for transfer to their first or second choice institution. As all are from the UK, and none are from EU countries other than the UK or from overseas, there will be no implication for these students.

Accommodation Centres (Education Facilities)

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether educational facilities in accommodation centres will have (a) a special educational needs co-ordinator and (b) classroom assistants trained to assist with special educational needs.

Stephen Twigg: The staffing mix in accommodation centres will mirror as closely as possible that of a typical maintained school. The centres will have sufficient experienced and trained staff to meet the needs of most pupils with SEN.

Accommodation Centres (Education Facilities)

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her estimate is of the number of (a) teachers and (b) classroom assistants that will be required to teach a total of 120 children in Years 1 to 13 in accommodation centres.

Stephen Twigg: My right hon. Friend has made no such estimate. She has, however, made clear that the composition of the teaching staff in accommodation centres should mirror as closely as possible that of maintained schools and be appropriate to the needs of the children concerned.

Accommodation Centres (Education Facilities)

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether children in accommodation centres will be (a) allowed and (b) required to take GCSEs.

Stephen Twigg: There will be no requirement for children in accommodation centres to take GCSE's. However, if a child has the ability to undertake such an examination, they will be able to do so. Each child will be assessed individually and their progress monitored and recorded throughout their stay.

Beacon Schools

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools have not been successful in reapplying for beacon status.

David Miliband: There have been two renewal exercises to date involving a total of 250 schools. Beacon status was not extended in 26 cases.

Beacon Schools

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what weight he gives to an increase of pupils with statements of special education needs when evaluating the educational results of a school when assessing a renewal application for beacon status.

David Miliband: Renewal of beacon status is dependent on a school being able to show that it has had an impact as a beacon and that it has maintained or improved its own performance in its three years as a beacon . Schools are advised to provide evidence of any factors that may have an effect on the school's performance, such as the number of pupils with statements of special education needs, so that these can be taken into account at the time of the assessment.

Children's Education

Stephen Ladyman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many SENDIST and IAP members there were as at the end of June; how many SENDIST and IAP members had received any training as at the end of June in their forthcoming disability-related duties; what type and quantity of training they had received respectively; and what measures the Department has put in place to ensure that all SENDIST and IAP members will be able to perform their legal duty effectively when hearing claims of disability discrimination relating to exclusions.

Stephen Twigg: There are three main types of panel or tribunal relating to educational provision for children: SEN and Disability Tribunals (SENDIST), Admission Appeal Panels, and Exclusion Appeal Panels.
	SENDIST consider disputes between parents and LEAs about statementing of children with Special Educational Needs. They also consider complaints of disability discrimination made by parents against individual schools or LEAs.
	At the end of June the Special Educational Needs Tribunal had 51 legal chairmen and 97 specialist members. The Secretary of State appointed 39 new specialist members in July. The Lord Chancellor has appointed 11 new chairmen.
	By the end of June, 21 SEN Tribunal chairmen and 40 specialist members had received one and a half day's training on disability discrimination legislation. The training included theoretical and practical sessions that covered all the relevant provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act, including the implications for school exclusions. The President of the Tribunal arranged training for tribunal members at three conferences, in June, July and September. The SEN Tribunal became SENDIST from September. Tribunal panels are likely to hear the first claims under the new legislation in the new year.
	Independent Admission Appeal Panels consider parents' appeals against refusal of admission of their children to particular schools. Responsibility for setting up a panel, and recruitment and training of panel members lies with the school's Xadmission authority" (in the case of voluntary aided and foundation schools this is the school's governing body, for community and controlled schools it is the local education authority). Although admission authorities themselves are responsible for the training of panel members, Information for School and College Governors (ISCG), who are one of a number of organisations delivering practitioner training, produced a training pack which is available free of charge to schools and LEAs. The revised Admission Appeals Code (to be laid before Parliament soon) contains guidance on the Disability Discrimination Act, and refers readers to other appropriate sources of help.
	Exclusion Appeal Panels consider appeals made by parents whose children have been excluded from a school, and the exclusion upheld by the school governing body. The panels are set up by LEAs, who are responsible for appointing and training members. The Department is currently revising its guidance in the XExclusion Appeal Panels Training Pack", with regard to the Disabilities Discrimination Act. This revised guidance will be issued shortly.
	The Department does not collect data on admission or exclusion appeal panel members or information on the training they receive.
	The Council of Tribunals (which operates under the Tribunals and Inquiries Act 1992) advises and supervises the procedures and working of tribunals. The Council, and the Judicial Studies Board, has a significant interest in the training of panel members. The Council of Tribunals publication XMaking Tribunals Accessible to Disabled People: Guidance on Applying the Disability Discrimination Act" is available to both panel members and those responsible for their training.

Children's Health

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the role of schools in the health of children; and what measures have been taken to ensure that food and meals provided at school are nutritional.

Stephen Twigg: Schools are encouraged, as part of the National Healthy School Standard, to present consistent messages about healthy eating. Food on offer in vending machines, tuck shops and school meals, for example, should complement the information about healthy eating covered in the taught curriculum.
	In April 2001, the Government introduced regulations which set minimum nutritional standards for school lunches. They were accompanied by guidance entitled 'Healthy School Lunches', which is available for school caterers, heads and others implementing the standards.

Class Sizes

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many primary schools in Castle Point had class sizes of 30 or above in each of the last three years.

David Miliband: Figures for January 2002 show that there were 19 maintained primary schools in Castle Point parliamentary constituency with classes of 30 pupils or more. The corresponding figures for 2000 and 2001 were 19 and 21, respectively.
	The School Standards and Framework Act 1998 placed a duty on Local Education Authorities and schools to ensure that infant classes for 5, 6 and 7 year olds taught by one qualified teacher are limited to no more than 30 pupils per class by September 2001 at the latest. The legislation does allow the limit of 30 to be exceeded in certain circumstances.
	Figures related to the pledge for Castle Point parliamentary constituency show there were no classes of 31 or more pupils in 2002. In 2001 there was one class, and in 2000 there were 9 classes, of 31 or more pupils.

Classroom Assistants

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what representations he has received supporting the extension of the work of classroom assistants into some aspects of teaching; who was consulted before the proposal was announced; and how many representations (a) for and (b) against he has received.

David Miliband: A working party involving representatives of teachers and support staff, local government employers and other government bodies has met monthly over the past year and has had extensive discussions about the proposed extension of roles and responsibilities of teaching assistants and other support staff. These discussions led to the development of a consultation paper, XDeveloping the Roles of School Support Staff", which was published on 22 October 2002. An analysis of responses to the consultation will be produced after the response deadline of 22 January 2003.

Connexions

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people have visited Connexions, seeking advice, in each region in which it operates.

Stephen Twigg: Information is not collected in the exact format requested; however the following table shows the number of occasions that young people have received assistance in each region since April 2001. Young people may have received assistance on more than one occasion. 2001–02 and 2002–03 are shown separately as different definitions of management information have been used in the two years, reflecting the move away from counting all contacts with young people to recording only those of a substantial nature.
	
		
			 Region April 2001 to March 2002(12) (assistance given) April 2002 to September 2002(13) (interventions) 
		
		
			 South East 74,266 50,250 
			 London 126,849 95,077 
			 East of England 35,345 66,770 
			 South West 188,858 148,272 
			 West Midlands 259,249 161,362 
			 East Midlands 58,532 98,792 
			 Yorkshire and The Humber 148,245 140,472 
			 North West 366,093 282,200 
			 North East 0 83,207 
			 England 1,257,437 1,126,402 
		
	
	(12) Data relate to 15 Connexions Partnerships which were launched before March 2002. There were no Connexions Partnerships operating in the North East during this period.
	(13) Data relate to 41 Connexions Partnerships (including the 15 partnerships referred to above) which were launched before the end of September 2002.

Connexions

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the annual budget for the Connexions service is, broken down by region.

Stephen Twigg: holding answer 28 October2002
	In total #334,627,254 was allocated to Connexions Partnerships in 2002–03. The regional totals are as follows:
	
		
			  # 
		
		
			 South East 32,060,363 
			 London 58,091,947 
			 East of England 29,063,827 
			 South West 34,644,952 
			 West Midlands 44,858,545 
			 East Midlands 26,890,604 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 34,626,011 
			 North West 54,093,700 
			 North East 20,297,304

Connexions

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what grants have been made to voluntary organisations working with young people by the Connexions service, for each region in which it operates.

Stephen Twigg: holding answer 28 October 2002
	15 Connexions partnerships became operational through the course of 2001–02. Details of grants provided by these partnerships to voluntary and community organisations in 2001–02 by English region are as given in the table. Connexions partnerships will be allocating grants throughout the year so figures for 2002–03 are not currently available.
	
		Grants to voluntary and community organisations 2001–02
		
			  #000 
		
		
			 Eastern 109 
			 East Midlands — 
			 London 453 
			 North East — 
			 North West 505 
			 South East — 
			 South West 605 
			 West Midlands 738 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 216 
			 Totals 2,626 
		
	
	Note:
	These figures are as reported to the Connexions Service National Unit by Government offices for the regions. No Connexions partnerships were operational in the north east during 2001–02. In the east midlands and south east only one partnership was operational in each region during 2001–02. Grant arrangements in these partnerships had not been finalised at the time so figures are unavailable. The total represents 4.17 per cent. of the total grant allocation to partnerships by the Connexions Service National Unit.

Criminal Records Bureau

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many teachers were unable to gain clearance from the Criminal Records Bureau before the first day of the new school year in (a) Lancashire and (b) the North West of England;
	(2)  how many school days were lost due to teachers being unable to gain clearance from the Criminal Records Bureau before the first day of the new school year in the North West of England.

David Miliband: The information requested is not available.

Departmental Projects (Hull, North)

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the projects to which his Department has allocated funding in the Hull, North constituency since 1997, indicating the amount in each case.

Stephen Twigg: holding answer 28 October 2002
	The information requested has been placed in the Libraries.

Education SSA

Martin Linton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the education SSA is per head in secondary schools in Wandsworth.

David Miliband: In 2002–03 Wandsworth's Education SSA per pupil in secondary schools is 4,460.
	Note
	Figure in cash terms for pupils aged 11–15—rounded to nearest #10

English/Mathematics Targets

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what special assistance she proposes to provide to those local education authorities whose results in English and Mathematics for 11-year-olds in 2002 fell a long way short of the Government's 2004 target; and if she will make a statement.

David Miliband: Following this year's Key Stage 2 results the Department asked all LEAs to draw up specific plans to identify and provide targeted support to those schools which are underperforming—both low attaining schools and those which are not helping their children make as much progress as other similar schools. Over the next couple of months the Department is meeting with all LEAs individually to discuss these plans and the further support they need to meet the challenging targets for 2004. The National Literacy and Numeracy Strategies will continue to help LEAs improve their results, in particular by focusing low attaining and underperforming schools, improving leadership and intervention programmes for pupils who are not achieving their potential. We are allocating an additional #11 million this year to support schools make improvements in 2003.

Examinations

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to alter the administration of examinations in England.

David Miliband: The Tomlinson report on A Level standards made a number of recommendations, which the Department accepted in full. The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority are now acting to implement these. The second stage of the Tomlinson inquiry will make further recommendations by the end of November.

Exclusion

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils have been excluded from (a) state primary and (b) state secondary schools in the London Borough of Hillingdon at each of the key stages in each year since 1997.

David Miliband: The available information is shown in the table. Information collected centrally on permanent exclusions does not record the Key Stage of the pupil; a breakdown of the figures by age is given as a proxy. Figures are not available centrally on fixed-term exclusions.
	
		Maintained primary and secondary schools in the London Borough of Hillingdon: -- Number of permanent exclusions by age of pupilsEngland 1996–97 to 2000–01(14)
		
			 Primary Schools (15) Age of Pupils Total 
			  6 and under 7 to 10 11 and  over  
		
		
			 1996–97 
			 Number of permanent exclusions 2 1 0 3 
			 Percentage of all permanent exclusions(16) 66.7 33.3 0.0 100.0 
			 Percentage of school population (17) 0.02 0.01 0.00 0.01 
			 1997–98 
			 Number of permanent exclusions 0 3 0 3 
			 Percentage of all permanent exclusions(16) 0.0 100.0 0.0 100.0 
			 Percentage of school population (17) 0.00 0.03 0.00 0.01 
			  
			 1998–99 
			 Number of permanent exclusions 0 4 0 4 
			 Percentage of all permanent exclusions(16) 0.0 100.0 0.0 100.0 
			 Percentage of school population(17) 0.00 0.03 0.00 0.02 
			  
			 1999–2000 
			 Number of permanent exclusions 1 3 0 4 
			 Percentage of all permanent exclusions(16) 25.0 75.0 0.0 100.0 
			 Percentage of school population(17) 0.01 0.02 0.00 0.02 
			  
			 2000–01(14) 
			 Number of permanent exclusions 4 11 0 15 
			 Percentage of all permanent exclusions(16) 26.7 73.3 0.0 100.0 
			 Percentage of school population(17) 0.03 0.09 0.00 0.06 
		
	
	
		
			 Secondary Schools (15) Age of Pupils Total 
			  11 to 13 14 to 15 16 and  over  
		
		
			 1996–97 
			 Number of permanent exclusions 32 25 0 57 
			 Percentage of all permanent exclusions(16) 56.1 43.9 0.0 100.0 
			 Percentage of school population(17) 0.41 0.51 0.00 0.38 
			  
			 1997–98 
			 Number of permanent exclusions 24 28 0 52 
			 Percentage of all permanent exclusions(16) 46.2 53.8 0.0 100.0 
			 Percentage of school population(17) 0.31 0.57 0.00 0.34 
			  
			 1998–99 
			 Number of permanent exclusions 34 25 0 59 
			 Percentage of all permanent exclusions(16) 57.6 42.4 0.0 100.0 
			 Percentage of school population(17) 0.44 0.51 0.00 0.390 
			  
			 1999–2000 
			 Number of permanent exclusions 15 22 2 39 
			 Percentage of all permanent exclusions(16) 38.5 56.4 5.1 100.0 
			 Percentage of school population(17) 0.18 0.43 0.08 0.24 
			  
			 2000–01(14) 
			 Number of permanent exclusions 30 16 0 46 
			 Percentage of all permanent exclusions(16) 65.2 34.8 0.0 100.0 
			 Percentage of school population(17) 0.35 0.31 0.00 0.28 
		
	
	(14) Permanent exclusions data for 2000/01 are estimated as they are known to be incomplete.
	(15) Includes middle schools as deemed.
	(16) The number of permanent exclusions expressed as a percentage of the total number.
	(17) The number of permanent exclusions expressed as a percentage of the number (headcount) of full and part-time pupils (excluding dually registered pupils in special schools) in January each year.
	Source:
	Annual Schools Census

Exclusion Appeals Panels

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance has been sent by her Department to school exclusion appeals panels since 1998.

Stephen Twigg: Circular 10/99 published in July 1999 contained statutory guidance on exclusion including the working of appeal panels. Letters amending the guidance in Circular 10/99 were issued in January and August 2000 and January and June 2001.
	This guidance was sent to local education authorities which are responsible in law for establishing the panels.
	In addition a training pack for exclusion appeal panels was sent to all LEAs in September 2001.

Expenditure (Secondary Schools)

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what his estimate is of the average expenditure on (a) secondary school places per pupil in the state sector and (b) secondary school places per day pupil in the independent sector; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what his estimate is of the total local and national government expenditure, per pupil, in state secondary schools in 2001–02; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: holding answer 24 October 2002
	For the state sector, the estimated average recurrent expenditure funded by central and local government in 2001–02 was #3,600 per pupil. Independent Schools Council figures suggest a private school recurrent spending figure of #5,400 per annum. Some caution is needed in making detailed comparisons between the sectors as it is not easy to calculate per pupil funding exactly on a like-for-like basis.

Focus Group Research

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what use he and his Department has made of focus group research since June 2001; if he will identify for each research project the topics covered, the person or organisation carrying out the research, and the total cost; and if he will publish the research on his Department's website.

Stephen Twigg: Since June 2001 the Department has completed focus group work for:
	Higher Education Student Support commissioned groups to explore how first year students and parents navigated the HE student support website. This was at a cost of #44,050. The work was done by the research agency Conway Smith Rose.
	Strategic research was done by the agency Campbell Keegan to gauge young people's attitudes to, and perceptions of, education. The cost was #62,334.
	Fathers were asked their reaction to the new magazine XDads and Sons" to find out if the publication had any impact on their behaviour to their sons. This work was done by Solutions Strategy Research for #23,030.
	Women between 18 and 40 joined a focus group run by Solutions Strategy Research to discuss child care recruitment at a cost of #17,743.
	Men and women over 40 were followed up by the same agency for #27,143.
	Solutions Strategy Research conducted focus groups with ethnic minorities to look at the barriers to working in child care for #41,000.
	Ethnic minority pupils' views of education and learning were gathered by Connect Research and Consultancy at a cost of #51,113.
	Employers were invited to discuss their information needs. This research was conducted by MORI at a cost of #43,113.
	The agency Cragg Ross Dawson was commissioned to discuss parents' information needs in respect of children's education. The cost was #58,985.
	For #31,138, the agency Rosenblatt conducted evaluation of the Aimhigher Roadshow withYear 9 pupils at schools across England.
	A pack to aid transition between Key Stages 2 and 3 was researched by Solutions Strategy Research, which cost #96,800.
	The agency Carne Martin researched attitudes to implementing and promoting basic skills training to employers for #26,849.
	Reactions to careers information and advertising about Modern Apprenticeships were gathered by Stimulating World Research for #58,444.
	Educational Communications sought the reactions of children from 10–19 on the Science Year Pack and advertising for #43,181.
	For #90,475, the agency Rosenblatt looked at current and potential communications media for young people.
	In addition to the projects listed, the Department regularly commissions research as part of the development of advertising and publicity campaigns. Focus group and other market research into creative development work of this type are regarded as commercially confidential and therefore cannot be published.
	The Department's website has details of its research programme (www.dfes.gov.uk/research). Information about focus groups and other forms of research commissioned by the Department's agencies and non-departmental public bodies is not held centrally.

Free School Meals

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate she has made of the number of families not entitled to (a) income support and (b) income-based jobseeker's allowance who will be passported to free school meals under the new tax credits scheme.

Stephen Twigg: Section 201 of the Education Act 2002 replaces Section 512 of the Education Act 1996, and anticipates that some families will move from income support and income based jobseekers allowance onto the new tax credits. If we had taken no action, they would have lost their entitlement to free school meals.
	As was announced during the passage of the Education Bill through Parliament, we intend to make an order which will protect the school meal entitlement of around 100,000 children whose families will cease to receive Income Support and Income Based Jobseekers Allowance. It will also extend free school meals to an additional 89,000 children.

Free School Meals

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the arrangements will be for passporting families to entitlement to free school meals under the new tax credits scheme.

Stephen Twigg: Section 201 of the Education Act 2002 replaces Section 512 of the Education Act 1996, and anticipates that some families will move from income support and income based jobseekers allowance onto the new tax credits. If we had taken no action, they would have lost their entitlement to free school meals.
	As was announced during the passage of the Education Bill through Parliament, we intend to make an order which will protect the school meal entitlement of around 100,000 children whose families will cease to receive income support and income based jobseekers allowance. It will also extend free school meals to an additional 89,000 children.

LEA Performances

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her estimate is of the number of local education authorities where performance has been found to be unsatisfactory; if she will list these authorities; and if she will make a statement.

David Miliband: holding answer 24 October 2002
	Since Ofsted began its statutory inspection of local education authorities in 1998, 42 authorities have been found to be unsatisfactory. These are listed. Of the 27 LEAs that have been re-inspected at least once so far, and the findings published, Ofsted found that 26 had improved, and of these 21 were satisfactory.
	LEAs that were found unsatisfactory
	Barnsley
	Bradford
	Bristol
	Buckinghamshire
	Calderdale
	Derby
	Doncaster
	Dudley
	Ealing
	Enfield
	Gloucestershire
	Hackney
	Haringey
	Isles of Scilly
	Islington
	Kent
	Lambeth
	Leeds
	Leicester City
	Lincolnshire
	Liverpool
	Luton
	Manchester
	Middlesbrough
	Milton Keynes
	North Somerset
	Plymouth
	Redbridge
	Richmond-upon-Thames
	Rochdale
	Rotherham
	Sandwell
	Sheffield
	South Tyneside
	Southwark
	Swindon
	Tameside
	Thurrock
	Tower Hamlets
	Walsall
	Waltham Forest
	Westminster

Local Education Authority Funding

Dave Watts: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list, by local education authority, the percentage of children receiving extra funding from (a) area cost adjustment, (b) other deprivation, (c) ethnicity, (d) income support and (e) sparsity funding.

David Miliband: In the current education standard spending assessment system, additional funding for deprivation, area costs, and sparsity is allocated to each LEA according to indicators derived from an analysis of past spending patterns. It is not therefore possible to identify percentages of children receiving extra support for each of these characteristics.

Medical Schools

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what resources have been earmarked for research start-up in new medical schools.

Margaret Hodge: Higher education institutions themselves decide how to deploy the resources made available to them from the public purse. I understand some institutions have chosen to devote some of their share of the #1 billion science research investment fund to support new medical schools. Alongside this, the Department of Health has provided #4.25 million non-recurrent funding for NHS facilities to support research in the new medical schools in 2001–02, and is making arrangements to provide a further #9.25 million in 2002–03. From 2002–03 it is providing over #1 million in recurrent funding to mobilise NHS support for research at the schools. In addition, researchers at all medical schools and faculties of medicine are eligible to apply to the Medical Research Council for research funds. Awards are made according to their scientific quality and importance to human health.

PSA Targets

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list each target set for schools in England and Wales for each year from 1997–98 to 2001–02, stating whether the target set was achieved, and where the target was not met, what actions were taken by the Department for Education and Skills.

David Miliband: Information about progress on PSA targets was published in the Department's 2002 Departmental Report in June 2002.
	Latest progress will be reported in the Department's 2002 Autumn Performance Report to be published for the first time in November 2002.

Recycling

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what action she is taking to encourage schools to promote recycling; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Twigg: Within the national curriculum, for example in Citizenship and geography, pupils learn about sustainable development, including the benefits of recycling.
	Many schools are working in partnership with local authorities on recycling projects through Local Agenda 21, which is an action plan for achieving sustainable development at local and community level.

School Exclusions

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what powers she has to overturn the decision (a) to exclude a pupil and (b) to reinstate an excluded pupil; and what effect legislation enacted since 1997 has had on the powers of her office.

Stephen Twigg: The Secretary of State has no powers to overturn the decision to exclude a pupil and no powers to reinstate an excluded pupil. These matters fall to be determined at local level. In respect of exclusions and exclusion appeals legislation enacted since 1997 has not changed the powers of her office.

School Exclusions

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children have been excluded from (a) state primary and (b) state secondary schools in West Sussex at each of the key stages, in each year since 1997.

David Miliband: The available information is shown in the table. Information collected centrally on permanent exclusions does not record the Key Stage of the pupil; a breakdown of the figures by age is given as a proxy. Figures are not available centrally on fixed-term exclusions.
	
		Maintained primary and secondary schools in West Sussex Local Education Authority: Number of permanent exclusions by age of pupils England 1996–97 to 2000–01(18)
		
			  Age of pupils  
			  6 and under 7 to 10 11 and over Total 
		
		
			 Primary schools(19)
			 1996–97 
			 Number of permanent exclusions 10 8 2 20 
			 Percentage of all permanent exclusions(20) 50.0 40.0 10.0 100.0 
			 Percentage of school population(21) 0.04 0.02 0.09 0.03 
			  
			 1997–98 
			 Number of permanent exclusions 2 18 3 23 
			 Percentage of all permanent exclusions(20) 8.7 78.3 13.0 100.0 
			 Percentage of school population(21) 0.01 0.06 0.12 0.04 
			  
			 1998–99 
			 Number of permanent exclusions 6 24 3 33 
			 Percentage of all permanent exclusions(20) 18.2 72.7 9.1 100.0 
			 Percentage of school population(21) 0.02 0.07 0.12 0.05 
			  
			 1999–2000 
			 Number of permanent exclusions 5 21 4 30 
			 Percentage of all permanent exclusions(20) 16.7 70.0 13.3 100.0 
			 Percentage of school population(21) 0.02 0.06 0.14 0.05 
			  
			 2000–01(18) 
			 Number of permanent exclusions 7 27 7 41 
			 Percentage of all permanent exclusions(20) 17.1 65.9 17.1 100.0 
			 Percentage of school population(21) 0.03 0.08 0.27 0.07 
		
	
	
		
			  Age of pupils  
			  11 to 13 14 to 15 16 and over Total 
		
		
			 Secondary schools(19)
			 1996–97 
			 Number of permanent exclusions 49 72 1 122 
			 Percentage of all permanent exclusions(20) 40.2 59.0 0.8 100.0 
			 Percentage of school population(21) 0.24 0.47 0.02 0.30 
			  
			 1997–98 
			 Number of permanent exclusion 48 94 2 144 
			 Percentage of all permanent exclusions(20) 33.3 65.3 1.4 100.0 
			 Percentage of school population(21) 0.23 0.63 0.04 0.36 
			  
			 1998–99 
			 Number of permanent exclusions 50 68 2 120 
			 Percentage of all permanent exclusions(20) 41.7 56.7 1.7 100.0 
			 Percentage of school population(21) 0.24 0.45 0.04 0.30 
			  
			 1999–2000 
			 Number of permanent exclusions 39 58 0 97 
			 Percentage of all permanent exclusions(20) 40.2 59.8 0.0 100.0 
			 Percentage of school population(21) 0.18 0.39 0.00 0.23 
			 2000–01(18) 
			 Number of permanent exclusions 80 58 0 138 
			 Percentage of all permanent exclusions(20) 58.0 42.0 0.0 100.0 
			 Percentage of school population(21) 0.35 0.38 0.00 0.32 
		
	
	(18) Permanent exclusions data for 2000–01 have been estimated as they are known to be incomplete.
	(19) Includes middle schools as deemed.
	(20) The number of permanent exclusions expressed as a percentage of the total number.
	(21) The number of permanent exclusions expressed as a percentage of the number (headcount) of full and part-time pupils (excluding dually registered pupils in special schools) in January each year.
	Source:
	Annual Schools Census

School Milk

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many primary schools provide school milk; and what proposals she has to reintroduce it in all schools.

Stephen Twigg: My Department does not collect statistics on the provision of school milk. We do not have any plans to reintroduce free school milk, but the nutritional standards for school lunches, brought in April 2001, strongly recommend that drinking milk is available as an option every day.

Schools (Portsmouth)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) pupils, (b) teachers and (c) support staff there were in each school in the Portsmouth, South constituency at the end of the 2001–02 academic year; and if she will make a statement.

David Miliband: The latest available information is shown in the table below. This gives numbers of pupils as published in the Primary and Secondary School Performance Tables for 2001. Otherwise, school level information is not routinely published.
	
		Number of pupils on roll in schools(22) in Portsmouth, South constituency
		
			 Name of School on roll Number 
		
		
			  Maintained Primary schools with Key Stage 2 pupils 
			 Charles Dickens Junior School 205 
			 Arundel Court Junior School 239 
			 Cottage Grove Primary School 370 
			 Langstone Junior School 335 
			 Milton Park Junior School 209 
			 Wimborne Junior School 338 
			 Fernhurst Junior School 389 
			 Meon Junior School 343 
			 Craneswater Junior School 298 
			 Newbridge Junior School 464 
			 Somers Park Primary School 311 
			 St. Jude's CofE Primary School 410 
			 St. George's Beneficial CofE Voluntary 
			 Controlled Primary School 237 
			 St. John's Cathedral Catholic Primary 
			 School 229 
			  Maintained Secondary Schools 
			 City of Portsmouth Girls' School 993 
			 Priory School 1,271 
			 St. Edmund's Catholic School 973 
			 St. Luke's CofE VA Secondary School 799 
			  
			 Independent Schools  
			 Mayville High School 323 
			 The Portsmouth Grammar School 1,321 
			 Portsmouth High School 608 
			 St. John's College 702 
			  
			 Special Schools  
			 East Shore School 60 
		
	
	(22) Includes schools which have pupils eligible for Key Stage 2 tests or pupils aged 15 and for whom results are published in the primary and secondary performance tables. The primary performance tables only include maintained primary schools with Key Stage 2 eligible pupils. Independent schools and infant schools are therefore excluded.
	Source:
	2001 Primary and Secondary Performance Tables

Secondary School Standards

Martin Linton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what progress she has made in improving standards in secondary schools in (a) England and (b) Wandsworth.

David Miliband: We are committed to raising standards significantly in secondary schools. That is why we have set challenging targets for raising pupil attainment at 14 and 16. The GCE results for Wandsworth are currently not available, though we know nationally that over 51 per cent of 16-year olds-have achieved five or more GCSEs or GNVQ equivalent. This is an increase of 4.9 percentage point from when targets were first introduced in 1997/98.
	In the case of 14-year-olds, there has been an improvement nationally of 1 percentage point in English and mathematics, while in science the large gains made last year have been consolidated. Provisional data for Wandsworth suggest that the number of 14 year olds achieving the standard expected at the end of Key Stage 3 has risen by 4 percentage points in English, and 2 percentage points in maths and science. This is good news, and suggests that our Key Stage 3 strategy has made an early impact on raising pupil standards in the early years of secondary education.

Technology Paper III

Angela Browning: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance was issued to schools this year in respect of changes to the Technology Paper III exam.

David Miliband: holding answer 28 October 2002
	No such guidance was given by the Department. Guidance to schools on examination matters is the responsibility of the awarding body which offers the qualification.

Technology Paper III

Angela Browning: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions his Department has had with the OCR Board in respect of this year's Technology Paper III.

David Miliband: holding answer 28 October 2002
	The Department has had no such discussions. Examination contents and assessment are the responsibility of the awarding body which offers the qualification.

Top-up Fees

Huw Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions she has had with university vice chancellors and principals about the introduction of top-up fees; and which universities have informed her of their intention to introduce top-up fees.

Margaret Hodge: My right hon. Friend and I meet university vice chancellors and principals from time to time in the course of normal business. We discuss a range of issues, and a number have raised the
	issue of discretionary fees.

Top-up Fees

Roger Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the effect on access to higher education of the introduction of top-up fees.

Mr. Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what evidence (a) from the UK and (b) from overseas she has assessed on the effect of top-up fees on levels of participation in higher education;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the impact of top-up fees on improving access to higher education.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 28 October 2002
	We have announced our intention to publish a strategy document setting out our vision for the development and reform of higher education, including the outcome of the review of student support. The document will be published shortly; it would not be appropriate to pre-empt that strategy at this stage.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Beef Special Premium Scheme

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what basis penalties are applied to claims under the Beef Special Premium Scheme 2001; and whether these penalties are equally applied to farmers in other countries within the Common Agricultural Policy.

Alun Michael: The Integrated Administration Control System sets down the penalties to be applied to the 2001 Beef Special Premium Scheme. These penalties are detailed in Commission Regulation 3887/92 (as amended). This regulation applies equally in all member states and compliance with it is monitored closely by European Commission auditors.

Beef Special Premium Scheme

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the appeal procedure regarding the Beef Special Premium Scheme in 2001; under what legislation it operates; and if she will list the names and legal qualifications of those who hear the appeals.

Alun Michael: There is not a formal appeal procedure for the 2001 Beef Special Premium Scheme. The Integrated Administrative and Control System Appeal Procedure, which was introduced on 1 April 2002, applies only to decisions made for the 2002 and subsequent scheme years. An internal customer complaints procedure is operated by the Rural Payments Agency, which is responsible for operating the scheme.

Beef Special Premium Scheme

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many appeals have been made regarding the Beef Special Premium Scheme 2001; and how many were (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful.

Alun Michael: There were 3,544 total refusals and 7,203 partial refusals of claims out of 102,495 which were submitted for Beef Special Premium Scheme 2001. Of these a small proportion have made representations to their rural payments agency processing site. A further 47 have made representations via their MP, and 55 have made customer complaints. In the majority of cases the original decision has been maintained because the European regulations governing the scheme do not allow for discretion to be applied where the conditions for claiming aid have not been met.

Breastfeeding

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action she is taking in response to recommendations from the UN Committee on the Convention on the Rights of the Child on measures to promote breast feeding and adoption of the International Code for Marketing of breast milk substitutes.

Jacqui Smith: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government are fully committed to the promotion of breastfeeding, which is accepted as the best form of nutrition for infants. Under the NHS Plan, we have a commitment for Xincreased support for breastfeeding". As part of the Government's commitment to reduce health inequalities and increase breastfeeding rates, particularly among disadvantaged groups, a target has been set to increase breastfeeding initiation rates by 2 percentage points through the NHS priorities and planning framework.
	The Department has undertaken several strands of work in promoting breastfeeding and will be further developed in the context of the children's national service framework. A total of 79 Xbest breastfeeding practice" projects have been funded across all regions. The aim is to increase the rates of breastfeeding, both initiation and duration among the disadvantaged groups. This is a goal shared by all sure start initiatives and several health action zone programmes.
	Other related Department activities include support for an annual National Breastfeeding Awareness Week, that aims to raise the awareness of breastfeeding through the NHS. The Department also has close links with the four main voluntary organisations involved in the promotion of breastfeeding and the UNICEF/World Health Organisation baby friendly initiative. The Department also conducts research into breastfeeding through quinquennial infant feeding surveys.
	Since 1981, the United Kingdom has publicly endorsed the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes and all the relevant resolutions passed at the World Health Assembly. The Infant Formula and Follow-on-Formula regulations came into force on 1 March 1995 and they implement the EC Directive 91/321/EEC, which embraces the principles of the WHO Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes 1981. The regulations place statutory restrictions on the composition, labelling, advertising and export of infant formulae. By implementing the Directive, the Government have taken seriously their responsibility to protect infant health and are at present revising the policy lines on infant feeding. We will be giving full consideration to the United Nations Committee's recommendations on promoting breastfeeding.

Broadband (Rural Areas)

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to encourage total roll-out of broadband in rural areas.

Alun Michael: The Government are setting up a new regional broadband unit, co-ordinated by the DTI. This unit will see a broadband expert located in each of the English regions and the devolved Administrations. The experts' role will be to help stimulate the rollout and take up of broadband, including in rural and remote areas. This is part of the Government's strategy to meet their target for the UK to have the most extensive and competitive broadband market in the G7 by 2005. Defra is working closely with DTI in taking the rural broadband agenda forward.

EC Water Framework Directive

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made in implementing the EC Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC).

Elliot Morley: The Government have today published jointly with the National Assembly for Wales a Second Consultation Paper on the Implementation of the EC Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC). This technical document, which is the second of three consultations, sets out how the Directive will be transposed into national legislation. I have placed copies of the paper in the House Libraries.

Flood and Coastal Defence

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent reports she has received under her Department's high level targets for flood and coastal defence; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: During summer recess, we published three reports on the high level targets which are designed to assist in delivery of the Government's policy aims and objectives for flood and coastal defence. Copies were placed in the House Libraries. These reports relate to:
	Target 2—Provision of flood warnings;
	Target 10—Water Level Management Plans;
	Target 12—Development and Flood Risk.
	Target 2—Provision of Flood Warnings This report follows the one published in May of this year and shows the following improvements since the last report was compiled: The percentage of flood warnings meeting target has risen by nearly 4 per cent. from 67.6 per cent. in April 2001 to 71.3 per cent. in April 2002.
	The coverage of a direct flood warning system to properties in areas at risk of flooding has risen by 3 per cent. from 58 per cent. in April 2001 to 61 per cent. in April 2002. This is. an increase of some 57,000 properties. Since autumn 2000 a further 322,000 properties are covered by the flood warning arrangements.
	Target 10—Water Level Management Plans
	This report summarises the Agency's progress in developing and implementing Water Level Management Plans (WLMPs) on European sites.
	Target 12—Development in Areas at Risk from Flooding
	This is the first report published since PPG25 was introduced in July 2001 and is the starting point to consider whether these guidelines are working. PPG25 is due to be reviewed in 2004. Future reports will provide a clearer picture as the guidelines are embedded. In general, I am pleased to note that Environment Agency advice on flood risk developments is being accepted and followed by Local Planning Authorities (LPAs).

Fuel Poverty

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) single pensioners, (b) older couples and (c) families with children are recognised as fuel poor; and what the figures were in each year since 1997.

Brian Wilson: I have been asked to reply.
	The numbers in fuel poverty in England in 1998 were published jointly by DTI and DEFRA in August 2001 and in the UK Fuel Poverty Strategy published in November 2001. They are available on the DTI website at: http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/consumers/fuel—poverty/1998estimates—england.pdf
	It is estimated that in 1998 there were (a) 1.2 million households containing a single person over the age of 60, (b) 0.7 million households with older couples, and (c) 0.5 million households containing children in fuel poverty in England (based on income including Housing Benefit and Income Support for Mortgage Interest). When Housing Benefit and Income Support for Mortgage Interest are excluded from the definition of income, the figures become (a) 1.5 million households containing a single person over the age of 60, (b) 0.8 million households with older couples, and (c) 0.9 million households containing children in fuel poverty in England in 1998.
	The 2001 English House Condition Survey will update this information and the information on the extent of fuel poverty in England generally. Results from this will be published in the update of the UK Fuel Poverty Strategy which should be published early in 2003.
	Fuel poverty is a devolved matter and therefore it is for the respective Assemblies and Parliament to report on the situation in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Fuel Poverty

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what procedures are in place to monitor the number of (a) single pensioners, (b) older couples and (c) families with children who are fuel poor.

Brian Wilson: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government's Fuel Poverty Strategy was published in November 2001 and sets out the proposals for monitoring the numbers in fuel poverty.
	The monitoring of progress in tackling fuel poverty will be taken forward in two ways. Firstly the actual number of households in fuel poverty will be monitored, in particular for vulnerable groups such as pensioner households and households with children. Secondly, progress on the factors that affect fuel poverty (income, fuel prices and housing) will be monitored. These factors are referred to as indicators of fuel poverty and they include background information on issues relevant to those in fuel poverty. Together these two approaches should enable progress on tackling fuel poverty to be monitored.
	In England, the monitoring of the actual number of households in fuel poverty will be carried out using information collected through the English House Condition Survey. Fuel poverty is a devolved matter and therefore it is for the respective Assemblies and Parliament to report on the situation in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Import Controls

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assistance she proposes to support local councils with the additional expense of the increased regulations relating to the testing of food of non-animal origin at ports of entry.

Hazel Blears: I have been asked to reply.
	I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that financing of import controls, including for the testing of food of non-animal origin, will be covered by a European Commission proposal for a regulation on official feed and food controls. This is expected in late November 2002. The Agency will consult on it with all its stakeholders. It will, in particular, work closely with local and port health authorities in considering the charging arrangements for import controls, including the option of full cost recovery.

Import Controls

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost was to the UK for each of the past five years of the inspection of imports of food of non-animal origin.

Hazel Blears: I have been asked to reply.
	I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that the information requested on the costs to the United Kingdom of inspection of food of non-animal origin is not held centrally. Local authorities have responsibility for the inspection of imports of food of non-animal origin.

Male Fish

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 23April 2002, Official Report, column 133W, on male fish, if she will make a statement on the outcome of discussions with the Environment Agency and the water industry regarding gender change in male fish.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 28 October 2002
	Officials from Defra, the Environment Agency, and the water industry met over the summer to discuss implications of the jointly funded research published by the Agency on 26 March for sewage treatment processes. It was agreed that a joint programme of work, now under way, was needed to:
	assess the applicability of results from the 10 UK rivers previously addressed to the wider UK aquatic environment;
	quantify the significance of endocrine disrupting pollution in UK rivers;
	identify common factors between affected sites, such as key stretches of river, aquatic species, and major sewage treatment works (STW) implicated; and
	investigate STW technologies, including cost-benefit assessments.

Male Fish

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 23 April 2002, Official Report, columns 133–34W, on male fish, if she will publish the findings of research into endocrine disruption in marine life; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 28 October 2002
	A summary report of the 3-year research programme on endocrine disruption in the marine environment (EDMAR) is due to be published in November. I will place a copy of this and the full report of the programme in the House Library.
	Some of the research outcomes from this programme, which was funded by DEFRA, the Environment Agency, the Scotland and Northern Ireland Forum for Environmental Research and the European Chemical Industry Association, have already been published in the scientific press and were presented at two seminars and in a series of newsletters.
	The main achievements/findings of EDMAR are as follows:
	the development of new methods for detecting endocrine disruption in marine fish and invertebrates;
	evidence of a slight decrease in one biomarker of endocrine disruption (egg protein production in male flounder fish) at some sites;
	signs of oestrogenic (feminising) endocrine disruption in blenny fish in some estuaries;
	very slight effects on migratory trout and salmon, suggesting that endocrine disruption from exposure to oestrogenic contamination in estuaries is not widespread in these species; and
	identification of natural and synthetic causal substances, the most important being natural and synthetic steroid hormones.
	DEFRA will be discussing with other Government Departments and Agencies how to take forward the recommendations for further research resulting from the EDMAR programme.

Market and Coastal Towns

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  if she will make a statement on the funds made available by the Government for the Market and Coastal Towns initiative.
	(2)  when the Market and Coastal Towns initiative was established; what the criteria are for the awards given by this scheme; who decides how and to whom such funds should be allocated; and if she will list the grants made to whom and when they were made.

Alun Michael: As announced in the Rural White Paper, the Government made available #37million over three years for the revitalisation of small rural towns under the Market Towns initiative (referred to in the south west as the Market and Coastal Towns initiative). #32 million of this was channelled via the regional development agencies and #5 million via the Countryside agency.
	It is for local town partnerships, using the Countryside agency's Healthcheck process, to draw up and agree action plans and for regional development agencies to approve individual projects. Detailed information on grants awarded is not collected centrally.

Organic Food

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what recent discussions she has had with the US Department of Agriculture over the US National Organic Programme and its implementation;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the impact of the US National Organic Programme on UK organic (a) exports and (b) standards;
	(3)  what representations she has received in relation to the US National Organic Programme; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 23 October 2002
	The Department has been in close touch with the USDA since the submission last year of an application for a determination that UKROFS' standards meet the requirements of the NOP. The USDA has now written to UKROFS to confirm that it accepts the UKROFS control system as sufficient to secure conformity with the NOP. This means that the UK organic inspection bodies are able to certify product for the purposes of the NOP but it does not affect the standards required to be met by products sold as organic in the UK. The Department has also been in close touch with organic certifiers in the US to ensure that the introduction of the NOP does not invalidate authorisations previously issued to import US organic produce into the UK. Discussions are also taking place between the European Commission and the USDA to ensure that disruption to trade between the Community and the US is kept to a minimum. We have received a number of representations about the introduction of the NOP from the UK organic inspection bodies and from companies concerned about the effect of the NOP on their ability to export to the US.

Rural White Paper

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much of the money available under Rural Transport Partnership was spent in 2001–02 and 2002–03 broken down by (i) date and (ii) county.

Alun Michael: The Rural Transport Partnership fund is administered by the Countryside Agency, which has supplied the following information for Defra. Funds are not allocated to specific geographic areas and the level of spend in each region is dependent on the applications approved. The allocation for 2001–02 of #6.89 million was overspent by #0.155 million. #10.35 million has been allocated for the whole period 2002–03. The spend until 24 October 2002 is #4.475 million. Figures at county level are not held centrally. The amount of money spent by region is shown in the table.
	
		# 
		
			 Region 2001–02 2002–03(23) 
		
		
			 North East 639,282 453,994 
			 North West 514,782 375,700 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 990,110 479,718 
			 East Midlands 578,518 291,800 
			 West Midlands 1,280,871 821,660 
			 East of England 851,494 493,517 
			 South East and London 1,185,032 731,916 
			 South West 950,466 826,544 
		
	
	(23) Until 24 October

HEALTH

Children in Care

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many immigrant children have gone missing from social services care in each of the last five years; how many of these were suspected victims of trafficking; and if he will make a statement. [Transferred]

Jacqui Smith: Based on the information returned to the Department by local authorities, in 2000–01 the number of children that went missing from care for 24 hours or more was approximately 790. The majority of young people were missing for less than one week, while 2 per cent. were missing for over six months. Comparable data for previous years are unavailable, as prior to 2000–01, councils were only required to return data on children who were missing for more than seven days. Provisional data about missing from care episodes in 2001–02 will be available at the end of November 2002.
	It is not possible to identify immigrant children from the above data. From 2002–03, councils will be returning statistics on unaccompanied asylum seekers. This information will be available in autumn 2003.

Children in Care

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) chiropody and (b) podiatry new episodes of care per head of population there were in each of the NHS regions in each of the last three years.

Jacqui Smith: Information about the number of new chiropody/podiatry episodes of care per 1,000 population for 1999–2000 and 2000–01 by national health service region is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 NHS region 1999–2000 2000–01 
		
		
			 England 17.3 16.6 
			 Northern and Yorkshire 17.1 16.8 
			 Trent 17.2 17.4 
			 Eastern 10.0 10.7 
			 London 18.3 16.3 
			 South East 12.8 11.3 
			 South West 21.0 21.3 
			 West Midlands 19.3 19.5 
			 North West 23.1 22.0 
		
	
	Source:
	Form KT23, Department of Health, Statistics Division (SD3G)
	From 1 April 2002 the NHS was reorganised with the establishment of strategic health authorities; the old health authorities and regional offices were abolished. Information about new chiropody episodes of care per 1,000 population is now available by Government Office regions for 2001–02 and is shown in the table.
	
		
			 Government Office Regions 2001–02 
		
		
			 England 17.1 
			 North East 16.9 
			 North West 21.5 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 17.6 
			 East Midlands 16.9 
			 West Midlands 20.5 
			 East of England 12.2 
			 London 17.6 
			 South East 11.9 
			 South West 20.2 
		
	
	Source:
	Form KT23 Department of Health, Statistics Division (SD3G)
	Further information about patient contacts with the chiropody service in England is available in the publication XChiropody services: summary information for 2001–02, England". A copy is available in the Library and on the internet at www.doh.gov.uk/public/kt230102.

Biological Attack

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on measures he has taken with regard to the availability of vaccines intended to protect the population against biological attack.

John Hutton: The Department has contingency plans to deal with the deliberate release of a biological agent. These plans include stocks of antibiotics, antitoxins and vaccines, which can be mobilised rapidly. Specific details concerning vaccine stocks and their availability is not being made public as this information could be of use to terrorists.

Cancer Research

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money his Department has spent on research into (a) breast cancer, (b) lung cancer, (c) prostate cancer and (d) leukaemia for each year since 1997.

Hazel Blears: It is not possible to give meaningful estimates of these figures, for two reasons. First, it is difficult to distinguish expenditure on research that is relevant to one particular tumour site from research on other or all cancers. Second, over 75 per cent. of the Department's total expenditure on research, including that on cancer, are devolved to national health service and details of these figures are not collected centrally.
	We are tackling both of these difficulties. The National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) is developing a database of research funded by NCRI members. Research projects are being classified according to the "Common Scientific Outline" system drawn up by the National Cancer Institute in the United States of America. This will enable all NCRI members to use the same system for distinguishing expenditure on research that is relevant to one particular tumour site from research on other or all cancers.
	The modernisation of the NHS research and development funding system should enable a significant proportion of funds that are currently devolved to the NHS to be entered on to the NCRI database and analysed in a similar way.

Cancer Services

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much money from the NHS Cancer Plan has been spent to date on cancer services.

Hazel Blears: The Cancer Plan is being backed by a big increase in funding with an extra #407 million in 2002–03 compared with 2000–01. #76 million of this money was earmarked within national health service budgets for 2002–03 to ensure that investment gets through to the front line to be spent on the priorities for cancer services identified by doctors, nurses and other frontline staff. We are looking very closely at progress this year and Professor Mike Richards is working with chief executives of StHAs to ensure that the money gets through to cancer services and that Cancer Plan targets are met.

Cancer Services

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total cost of (a) prostate, (b) lung, (c) ovarian and (d) leukaemia cancer services was in each year since 1997.

Hazel Blears: The Department does not collect figures on the cost of services provided by the national health service in a way that enables an accurate figure to be calculated for the cost of a particular disease. The cost of cancer care to the NHS has been estimated to be approximately 6 per cent. of hospital expenditure.
	The Cancer Plan set out the Government's commitment that an extra #570 million would be made available for cancer services by 2003–04.

Care Homes (Closure)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his estimate is of the (a) number of residential care homes that have closed and (b) number of residential care home beds lost in Portsmouth, South in each of the past five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: Information is not available by constituency. The number of residential care homes and care home beds in Portsmouth unitary authority is shown in the table at 31 March for the years 1998 to 2001. Data for 2002 are not yet available.
	
		Number of residential care homes and care home beds in Portsmouth unitary authority at 31 March, 1998 to 2001
		
			 As at 31 March Care homes Care home beds 
		
		
			 1998 165 1,890 
			 1999 165 1,850 
			 2000 155 1,735 
			 2001 140 1,595

Care Homes (Closure)

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the closure of care homes.

Jacqui Smith: Department of Health figures show that between 1997 and 2001 the most recent figures available the number of care homes in England reduced by only 640 or 2 per cent. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced, on 23 July, an extra #1 billion for social services by 2006. Some of this money can be used to boost capacity in the care home sector.

Child Care Workers

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary for Health what steps he has taken to improve the vetting of child care workers.

Jacqui Smith: The Government are committed to improving safeguards for children. They have enacted a raft of new legislation over the last few years, including the Protection of Children Act 1999, the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 and the Care Standards Act 2000. Together these initiatives establish a coherent cross-sector scheme for identifying those people considered to be unsuitable to work with children. They also ensure that when such people have been identified they are prevented from gaining access to children through their work.

Children's Trusts

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on children's trusts.

Jacqui Smith: Children's trusts provide an opportunity for delivering better services and outcomes for children and families. They will be based in local councils with power for the first time to commission health and social care. They will enable local partners to jointly plan, commission, finance—and where it makes sense—deliver services for children by putting their needs at the centre of policy. The first pilot sites will start from April 2003 and we will be seeking expressions of interest in December.

Chinese Community

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his action to support the care needs of older members of the Chinese community in London.

Jacqui Smith: The national service framework (NSF) for older people provides local National Health Service bodies and councils with a template for raising the standards of health and social care and reducing inconsistency in access and service provision for all older people. The NSF and the ongoing project, Developing services for minority ethnic older people, provides specific guidance on how the needs of minority ethnic older people, including older Chinese people, can be effectively assessed and met.

Clinical Negligence

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what policies he has to reduce the human and financial costs of clinical mistakes in hospitals.

David Lammy: We have established a broad programme of work specifically to address the important issue of patient safety and reduce unintended harm to patients.
	The National Patient Safety Agency, established in July 2001, is a key part of this patient safety programme. The NPSA is already beginning to have an impact on the safety of national health service patient care. The agency will establish and run a new national reporting system to record adverse events and near misses in hospitals and primary care. It will promote a culture of reporting and learning so that lessons learnt in one part of the NHS are properly shared with the whole of the health service.
	We are also targeting areas of known risk to patients. Work is under way on reducing medication errors, obstetrics errors and maladministered spinal injections. We have also commissioned a programme of research into aspects of patient safety which is under way at the University of Birmingham.

Community Involvement in NHS

Paul Goggins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to increase community involvement in the organisation and delivery of NHS services.

David Lammy: The Department will introduce new systems to build the capacity of communities and hard-to-reach groups, so they can influence the way the national health service works.
	A new national body—The Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health— will be established during next year. Patients' forums will be set up in every NHS trust and primary care trust, to directly involve many thousands of people in the organisation and delivery of NHS services. They will work in local communities to promote involvement in local decision-making processes by generating interest and empowering people to get involved.
	In addition, the Department has launched the Community Engagement Learning Network, a major organisational development programme designed to help PCTs throughout England engage with communities, patients, the public and staff in renewing and improving health services.

Day Surgery in Hospitals

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the future of day surgery in hospitals.

John Hutton: Most patients prefer day surgery as it provides fast effective care and is the least disruptive to their lives. As part of the Day Surgery Strategy, we aim to make day surgery the usual way people have their planned operations not the exception, and increase to 75 per cent. the rate of elective operations undertaken as day cases. This is underpinned by #68 million that we are providing in 2002–03 and 2003–04 to improve access and deliver choice to patients in day surgery units.

Drugs-related Deaths

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have died as a result of (a) smoking, (b) alcohol and (c) drugs, in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: It is estimated that smoking causes 120,000 deaths in the United Kingdom each year 1 .
	Estimates of deaths from alcohol range between 5,000 and 40,000 per annum in England and Wales, reflecting the wide range of methods of calculation used in many studies. The trend data requested is not available.
	The available information on drug-related deaths is shown in the table.
	1 Source: The UK Smoking Epidemic: Deaths in 1995— health education authority (comparable figures are not available for other years).
	
		Number of deaths related to drug misuse(24), England and Wales, 1993(25) to 2000
		
			  1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 
		
		
			 Deaths 864 1,002 1,100 1,247 1,302 1,459 1,568 1,662 
		
	
	(24) These data relate to deaths where the underlying cause of death is poisoning, drug abuse or drug dependence and where any of the substances controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act (1971) are involved.
	(25) Comparable data are not available for earlier years.
	Source:
	Death related to drug poisoning: England and Wales 1993–2000Health Statistics Quarterly 13, Spring 2002, Office for National Statistics;ONS database of drug-related poisonings. Available on the internet at http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme health/HSQ13 v4.pdf

Drugs-related Deaths

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many drug related deaths were caused in the last five years by (a) heroin, (b) crack cocaine, (c) cocaine, (d) ecstasy, (e) cannabis, (f) alcohol, (g) solvents and (h) prescription drugs; and how many people have used NHS services to treat (i) addiction to and (ii) the adverse effects of using each of these drugs in each of the last five years.

Hazel Blears: Information on deaths owing to substance abuse is shown in the table:
	
		Numbers of deaths where selected substances were mentioned on the death certificate, England and Wales, 1996 to 2000
		
			 Drug 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 
		
		
			 (a) Heroin and Morphine 466 445 646 754 926 
			 (b) and (c) Cocaine 19 39 66 88 80 
			 (d) MDMA/ Ecstasy 16 12 16 26 36 
			 (e) Cannabis 12 13 5 8 11 
		
	
	Note:
	It should be noted that the figures provided are for the last five years available.
	Source:
	Death related to drug poisoning: England and Wales 1993–2000;Health Statistics Quarterly 13, Spring 2002, Office for National Statistics; ONS database of drug-related poisonings.
	Estimates range that between 5,000 and 40,000 deaths per annum are caused by alcohol in England and Wales, reflecting the wide range of methods of calculation used in many studies: consequently the trend data requested are not available.
	Information on deaths owing to volatile substance abuse is shown in the table:
	
		Deaths Associated with Volatile Substance Abuse (VSA) 
		
			  1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 
		
		
			 (g) VSA 78 78 80 75 64 
		
	
	Note:
	It should be noted that the figures provided are for the last five years available.
	Source:
	Trends in death associated with Abuse of Volatile Substances, Report no.15, St. George's Hospital Medical School, June 2002.
	Information on deaths through prescription drugs is not available centrally.
	Up to March 2001, the number of drug users in treatment with drug misuse agencies and general practitioners was around 118,500. Over the two-year period from 1998–99 to 2000–01, there has been a 16 per cent. increase in the numbers of drug users accessing drug treatment services. National health service trusts provide the majority of medical treatment services, while the voluntary sector primarily provides rehabilitation services. The great majority of drug users, 87 per cent., were receiving treatment within NHS services.
	Information is not available centrally as to how many people have used NHS services to treat the adverse effects of using drugs.

Food Labelling

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to bring forward country of origin food labelling.

Hazel Blears: Rules on origin labelling of food are set at European Union level. The Food Standards Agency has taken the lead in pressing for changes to improve the clarity and amount of information available to consumers particularly in relation to country of origin. In the meantime, the Agency has published advice to help enforcement authorities tackle misleading labelling.

General Practitioners (Recruitment)

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to ensure that in areas where there is a shortage of general practitioners that extra funding will be provided to aid the recruitment process.

John Hutton: Funding to aid general practitioner recruitment is targeted at primary care trusts classified as being in under doctored areas, on the basis of the number of general practitioner principals, or equivalents, per weighted head of the population. The list will be reviewed and updated periodically.

Health Care

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what progress has been made with setting up assertive outreach and crisis intervention/home treatment teams for mental health services in West Sussex;
	(2)  what monies have been made available for the development of mental health services in West Sussex; and what monitoring has been carried out by his Department to see whether funds made available for the development of mental health services in West Sussex have been used for that purpose.

Hazel Blears: The earmarked funding included in the allocation for 2002–03 for investment in mental health was #1.112 million. In addition to mandatory cost pressures, over #800,000 of this allocation has been used for the provision of specific mental health services across West Sussex. There has also been additional commissioning of services not provided locally, such as high secure placements, amounting to #0.5 million. Monitoring is undertaken by the strategic health authority through the annual delivery agreement it has with the primary care trusts.
	West Sussex Health and Social Care National Health Service Trust is developing plans for outreach, crisis intervention and home treatment teams as part of its adult mental health services strategy. Work is also progressing on the development of a crisis resolution service in Adur, Arun and Worthing with a view to the services becoming operational in April 2003.

Health Inspectors (Imports)

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many health inspectors are available to check imports through the ports of (a) Southampton, (b) Bristol, (c) Portsmouth, (d) Poole, (e) Weymouth, (f) Bournemouth Airport and (g) Southampton Airport; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 15 October 2002
	I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that responsibility for employing environmental health officers at airports and seaports rests with the local authorities which have responsibilities for port health work. The number of enforcement officers employed is determined by the local authorities. The numbers of such officers are not held centrally.

Health Service Finance

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the allocation of responsibility between a primary care trust and a hospital trust in the event that the latter incurs a financial deficit.

John Hutton: National health service trusts should ensure they do not incur a financial deficit. However, the underlying cause of a financial problem and the identification of any remedial action necessary needs to be handled jointly between primary care trusts and NHS trusts and managed overall by the strategic health authority.

Hospital Acquired Infection

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on progress towards a reduction in hospital acquired infections.

Hazel Blears: A number of actions are already under way to help reduce infections, and analysis of infection control returns shows improved performance over the last two years. However, further work is needed, and we are working with key stakeholders to develop a targeted action plan for health care associated infection as part of our strategy to combat infectious diseases.

Indebtedness

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the level is of indebtedness of the North Wiltshire and Kennett PCT.

Hazel Blears: Kennett and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust started the current financial year with a range of financial pressures. These included the distribution of the liabilities of the former Wiltshire Health Authority, the share of underlying recurring deficits in providers within the strategic health authority area and a range of other cost pressures including primary care prescribing. As part of the assistance received from the NHS Bank, following the application by the Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Strategic Health Authority, the trust was allocated the second highest share of any organisation in the health authority area. The health authority will work with the trust in developing a three year recovery plan to address the underlying shortfall.

Integration of Health and Social Services

Roger Casale: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what further steps he intends to take to promote the integration of health and social services.

Jacqui Smith: The Government intend to continue to support the integration of health services, with not only social services but all health-related functions of councils.
	This month the Department of Health, working with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, will launch a new network to further support and promote joint working.
	We have also recently announced our intention to pilot Children's Trusts. We expect as a minimum that these will bring together services from health, education and social care to deliver better co-ordinated services for children and their parents.

Kava-kava

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  when he intends to publish the conclusions of the Medicines Control Agency's consultation, MLX286, on the herbal ingredient kava-kava in unlicensed medicines;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on the Medicines Control Agency's consultation MLX 286 on the herbal ingredient kava-kava (piper methysticum) in unlicensed medicines;
	(3)  which herbal interest groups and organisations are participating in the voluntary agreement to withdraw products containing kava-kava from sale in the United Kingdom; how many have not agreed to the voluntary agreement; and if he will list the reasons his Department has received from such organisations for not participating;
	(4)  what discussions he has held with (a) the Medicines Control Agency and (b) the Food Standards Agency with regards to the proposals to prohibit the sale of products containing kava-kava in the United Kingdom;
	(5)  if he will make a statement on his position regarding the sale and use of the herbal ingredient kava-kava in herbal remedies and food products;
	(6)  what representations he has received from herbal interest groups with regards to the (a) voluntary agreement to withdraw the ingredient kava-kava from unlicensed medicines and food products and (b) the proposals to prohibit the herbal ingredient kava-kava in unlicensed medicines and food products;
	(7)  whether products containing the herbal ingredient kava-kava sold in the United Kingdom are comparable with such products sold in Germany.

Hazel Blears: Following initial advice from the Committee on Safety of Medicines in December 2001 as to public health risk associated with medicines containing Kava-kava, a voluntary agreement between the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) and the herbal sector to withdraw from sale medicinal products containing Kava-kava took effect at the beginning of 2002. In July the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM) gave further advice, that there was evidence that in rare cases Kava-kava was associated with hepatotoxicity, which may be serious in nature. The CSM made the provisional recommendation that use of the plant should be prohibited in unlicensed medicines. The Government considered that advice and asked the Medicines Control Agency to consult on proposals to prohibit the sale, supply or importation of unlicensed medicinal products consisting of, or containing, Kava-kava except those for external use only. The proposals were set out in consultation letter MIX 286.
	The consultation period has now ended and the Government have requested further advice on this issue, taking account of the responses to consultation, from the independent advisory committee, the Committee on Safety of Medicines. In addition, in accordance with the statutory procedure under section 62 of the Medicines Act 1968, the consultation responses have been referred to the Medicines Commission, who will report their findings and conclusions to Ministers. The Government will make an announcement once it has considered this advice and the Commission's report.
	During the consultation period around 50 responses were received, with a majority of those commenting supporting the proposal. A number of the responses from the herbal sector advocated alternative options, in particular the continued availability of Kava-kava with voluntary inclusion of warning information for the purchaser or the continued availability of Kava but subject to restrictions, for example as to strength.
	Over 20 representative organisations in the herbal sector or individual companies have at various stages notified the MCA of their participation in the voluntary agreement. In the period preceding the CSM's further advice in July, the MCA was aware that one company had withdrawn from the agreement on the basis of its view that there was insufficient evidence of risk to the public from Kava-kava to justify the withdrawal of the product, although it subsequently resumed participation. The current position is that the MCA is not aware of any relevant representative groups or organisations that have advised their members not to participate in the agreement. However, the national association of health stores notified the MCA at the end of July of their position that it was a matter for individual shops to check with their insurance companies to establish whether cover would remain in force.
	The MCA has received a wide range of oral or written representations and views from the herbal sector relating to the voluntary agreement. The main points made by various parties have included: support for the agreement pending a decision on the future regulatory status of Kava-kava; disagreement or doubt that the strength of evidence of risk justified the agreement or its continuation; requests for an early decision about any regulatory action in order to resolve the position; and concerns over whether all parties were implementing or abiding by the agreement.
	As herbal remedies may be supplied under section 12 of the Medicines Act 1968 without a marketing authorisation or any other form of notification to the MCA, a comprehensive record of Kava-kava products on the United Kingdom's market is not available. The MCA therefore requested information from the herbal sector about unlicensed remedies containing Kava-kava which had been on the market prior to the voluntary agreement. The information provided was insufficiently comprehensive to enable a detailed comparison with products on the German market. However, products listed by the herbal sector included ones similar to those sold in Germany, such as standardised extracts providing a daily dose of between 120 and 210 mg of kavalactones.
	In relation to the position on food, since December 2001 the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has been advising against consumption of foods containing Kava-kava and encouraging industry to voluntarily withdraw these products from the market. In July 2002, acting on the advice of the chairman of the committee on toxicity of chemicals in food, consumer products and the environment (COT), the FSA initiated a consultation on proposals which would prohibit the use and import of Kava-kava in foods. The consultation period has now ended and the FSA is considering the responses. Around 30 written responses have been received from a range of interested parties with roughly equal numbers supporting and opposing the proposals.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health has had no discussions with the FSA on this matter. The FSA has no additional information to that outlined above on compliance with the voluntary withdrawal. The FSA does not hold information on the range of food products containing Kava-kava available on the German market.

Merging NHS Trusts

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the merging of NHS trusts;

John Burnett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his policy for merging acute NHS trusts.

John Hutton: Ministers will agree to proposals from national health service trusts to merge only if we are persuaded that such a merger is in patients' interests through supporting the delivery of the targets set out in the NHS plan.

Ambulance Services

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the progress of ambulance trusts in meeting response time targets.

David Lammy: The goal for ambulance service national health service trusts of reaching 75 per cent. of category A calls within eight minutes is more challenging for some than for others, but the Government remain determined that they all should meet it. While there is more to be done, the ambulance service nationally has made significant progress in recent years—in 1996 only one trust performed at the level indicated by current targets.
	Strategic health authorities are responsible for managing the performance of ambulance trusts. Any trust not meeting its response time targets is required to produce a recovery plan in conjunction with their strategic health authority.

Bed Blocking

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to produce final guidance on the proposed fine system to tackle bed blocking.

Jacqui Smith: We intend to bring legislation forward as soon as possible, including guidance to the national health service and social care about how the system of reimbursement will be administered, in relation to delayed transfers of care.

Mental Health

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans the Government have to increase the number of mental health beds in the NHS.

Jacqui Smith: Extra central investment enabled the creation of over 500 additional secure beds and 320 24-hour staffed beds by April 2001. There are also NHS plan commitments, which we expect to achieve, to develop 200 long-term secure mental health beds and 140 beds for dangerous people with severe personality disorder by 2004. The main thrust of our policy, however, is to develop community services that can safely treat most mental health patients without hospital admission.

Dentists

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what incentives are available to attract NHS dentists to work in areas of shortage.

David Lammy: The Government are committed to modernising national health service dentistry. Over the three year period 2000–01 to 2002–03 over #125 million has been made available to the NHS to improve local services. In addition we introduced a scheme in April 1999 to encourage dentists to increase their NHS commitment.
	Working with the profession and other stakeholders, the Department, through its Modernisation Agency, is planning shortly to test new models of providing NHS oral health care through the Options for Change programme, building on the learning already available from the personal dental services pilot projects.

Hemel Hempstead General Hospital

Tony McWalter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that financial considerations do not impede the restoration of maternity and paediatric services to Hemel Hempstead General Hospital.

David Lammy: Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire strategic health authority has agreed with St. Albans Primary Care Trust and Dacorum Primary Care Trust that it will find the necessary funds during this financial year to establish and support the most appropriate model of care at Hemel Hempstead General Hospital. Further discussions are in progress about funding for next year.

Acute Services (East Kent)

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress is being made with the review of acute hospital services in east Kent.

Hazel Blears: A judicial review of the consultation process undertaken to reach the recommendation on the reconfiguration, of acute services in east Kent is to begin in November. Ministers will need to wait for the legal process to be concluded.

Mental Health Bill

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received concerning the Mental Health Bill; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: The Government published a draft Mental Health Bill and consultation document on 25 June. The consultation period ran for 12 weeks and ended on 16 September. We have received over 1,900 formal responses including letters from the public and hon. Members about issues raised in the Bill.

Mental Health Care (Salisbury)

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the staff by grade and specialty in (a) the elderly care team, (b) the city team, (c) the rural team and (d) other categories in the Salisbury Mental Health Care team; and who funds each person.

Hazel Blears: The information requested is not available centrally.

Mesothelioma Cancer

Michael Clapham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of current available treatments for mesothelioma cancer; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: A clinical guideline on mesothelioma cancer is being considered by the Department for referral to the National Institute for Clinical Excellence. This would consider how mesothelioma should be diagnosed and managed.

National Service Frameworks

Richard Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the topics that are under consideration for future National Service Frameworks in the Health Service; and how they are selected.

Jacqui Smith: The national service framework (NSF) programme currently includes frameworks for mental health (1999), coronary heart disease (2000) the [national] Cancer Plan (2000), older people (2001) and diabetes standards (2001). The diabetes NSF delivery strategy is due later this year. Work is in hand on national service frameworks for renal services, childrens services and long term conditions. These frameworks amount to a significant programme of quality improvement across the national health service. We have no plans to amend the programme at present. The criteria for selection are set out in XA First Class Service".

Neuroscience Services

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the future of regional specialist commissioning groups in respect of neuroscience services.

John Hutton: The future of regional specialised commissioning groups is being considered as part of the consultation on commissioning arrangements for specialised services for which responses are still coming in. I will be considering the responses and expect to reach conclusions on the way forward by the turn of the year.

Nursing and Midwifery Council

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on difficulties experienced by the Nursing and Midwifery Council in dealing with applications.

John Hutton: The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) was established on 1 April 2002 and inherited from its predecessor the United Kingdom Central Council its resources, systems and processes for the registration of nurses, midwives and health visitors.
	Its establishment coincided with the installation of a new information technology system commissioned by its predecessor which has resulted in a backlog in dealing with new applications.
	The NMC has taken action to resolve the issues including improving communications, targeting resources to tackle the backlogs and undertaking a review of systems and processes. I am advised that the NMC has cleared the backlogs in the UK applications and is continuing to target resources at registration applications from those qualified overseas.

Nursing Homes

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the position of elderly residents who are obliged to seek alternative accommodation when nursing homes seek to re-register under a different status.

Jacqui Smith: If a care home is de-registered, councils should re-assess the needs of the home's supported residents for whom they are responsible to determine the best course of action, which may involve moving residents to another registered care home. In similar circumstances, self-funding residents may turn to councils for information and advice. Where self-funding residents cannot make their own arrangements, councils may make alternative arrangements for them under section 21 of the National Assistance Act 1948. When care homes are de-registered, there should be prior consultation with all relevant parties, including the residents and their families.

Older People's Taskforce

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 16 October 2002, Official Report, column 872W, on the older people's task force, if he will set out the reasons for each of the former members of the task force being replaced with new appointees.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 22 October 2002
	Mr. Harry Cayton resigned on taking up his post as Director of Patient Experience and Public Involvement at the Department.
	Dr. Peter Melton, Mr. David Panter, Mrs. Beth Taylor and Mr. David White stepped down because of other pressing work commitments.
	Mr. Chai Patel stepped down because he was no longer the owner of Westminster Healthcare and no longer had a direct interest in older people's services that qualified him to serve on the older people's task force.

Public Health Laboratory Service

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the proposed changes to the Public Health Laboratory Services.

Hazel Blears: We propose that many of the functions of the Public Health Laboratory Service should be incorporated into the proposed Health Protection Agency. The remaining functions—the laboratories predominately undertaking diagnostic microbiology services—will transfer to the management of local national health service trust by 1 April 2003.

Radiotherapy Waiting Times

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the latest waiting times are for post-operative radiotherapy treatment; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: Waiting times for radiotherapy treatment are not collected centrally. In order to tackle radiotherapy waiting times, we are making unprecedented investment in new radiotherapy facilities, streamlining care processes through the cancer services collaborative and working to best utilise the current work force and to increase the number of staff in post and in training.

Smoking

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the smoking percentage rates among women during pregnancy in each year since 1990 in (a) England and (b) each NHS region.

Jacqui Smith: Information on smoking in pregnancy is obtained from the infant feeding survey, which is carried out every five years; the most recent survey was in 2000. The results are not analysed by national health service region. The available information is given in the tables.
	
		Table 1. Proportion of women who smoked throughout pregnancy/England, 1990,1995, and 2000 -- Percentage
		
			 Smoking prevalence 1990(26) 1995(27) 2002(27) 
		
		
			 Smoked during pregnancy 28 23 19 
			 Base number 5,413 4,956 (28) 4,921 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Data for 1990 relate to Great Britain.
	2. The results from the 1995 and 2000 surveys are not directly comparable, since some of the smoking questions on the questionnaire were revised in 2000 to improve the reliability of the results.
	3. The base for 2000 excludes 200 mothers who did not supply sufficient information for their smoking status to be classified.
	Sources:
	OPCS Infant feeding survey 1990, ONS Infant feeding survey 1995, and BMRB Infant feeding survey 2000. The latter is available from the internet at http://www.doh.qov.uk/pdfs/infantreport2000.pdf
	
		Table 2. Proportion of women who smoked throughout pregnancy, by region, England and Wales, 2000
		
			 Region Percentage Base number 
		
		
			 London and South East 15 1,809 
			 South West and Wales 21 784 
			 Midlands and East Anglia 21 984 
			 North 23 1,625 
			 England and Wales 19 (26),(27) 5,225 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. 216 mothers who did not supply sufficient information for their smoking status to be classified have been excluded.
	2. 23 mothers who did not supply information for their region to be classified have been excluded from the regional breakdown.
	Source:
	(Derived from) BMRB Infant feeding survey 2000. The published report is available from the internet at http://www.doh.qov.uk/pdfs/infantreport2000.pdf

Treatment for the Blind and Partially Sighted

David Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to improve treatment for the blind and partially sighted.

Jacqui Smith: We have set a new target for the national health service to improve diabetic retinopathy screening. We have invested #20 million to modernise cataract services. At the same time, the Royal National Institute for the Blind is working with us to develop a resource pack for implementation of the Older People's National Service Framework. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence are also carrying out an appraisal of photodynamic therapy.

Waiting Times (A&E)

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on waiting times in accident and emergency departments.

David Lammy: Long waits in accident and emergency are not acceptable and improving patients' experience of emergency care is a Government priority.
	The NHS Plan set the target to reduce the maximum wait in accident and emergency (A&E) from arrival to admission, transfer or discharge to four hours or less by 2004. By the time of the first milestone in March 2002, 77 per cent, of all patients attending A&E in England spent four hours or less in A&E. This slightly exceeded the milestone which was set at 75 per cent.

Wythenshawe Hospital

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the number of contacts his Department has had with (a) Wythenshawe Hospital and (b) Greater Manchester health authority concerning the case of Mr. Stanley Ford and list, in each case, the date and nature of contact.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 24 October 2002
	Officials have been in contact with South Manchester University Hospitals National Health Service Trust and Greater Manchester Strategic Health Authority on a number of occasions since my hon. Friend first raised her constituent's case in five parliamentary questions last July. These approaches have been by letter, telephone and e-mail and not all were individually recorded.

Wythenshawe Hospital

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what investigations have taken place into hygiene standards at Wythenshawe Hospital following the outbreaks of MRSA in May and June.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 24 October 2002
	Several meetings took place, attended by all relevant staff, including a consultant microbiologist and an infection control nurse. The trust's cleaning contractor was given instructions about additional cleaning requirements, with which it has complied. These enhanced cleaning measures are continuing to be monitored.

Wythenshawe Hospital

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the reasons why Wythenshawe Hospital was short of theatre staff on 22 March; how many staff were missing; what post each of them held; and, in each case, what the reason for absence was.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 24 October 2002
	On 22 March, five of the 20 nursing staff were on sick leave, although four colleagues worked overtime to compensate for their absence. It was as a result of an emergency admission going to theatre at 14:35 hours that my hon. Friend's constituent had to have his operation cancelled.

Wythenshawe Hospital

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will investigate the procedures adopted by (a) Wythenshawe Hospital and (b) the Greater Manchester health authority when dealing with complaints about the treatment of Mr S. Ford of Warrington; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 24 October 2002
	At the request of the national health service chief executive, the director of health & social care—North has reviewed Mr. Ford's case and the handling of subsequent complaints by South Manchester University Hospitals NHS Trust and Greater Manchester Strategic Health Authority. The director wrote to my hon. Friend on 18 September with his findings.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Amina Lawal

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on Amina Lawal.

Denis MacShane: holding answer 28 October 2002
	I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to the right hon. Member for Devizes (Mr. Ancram) on 23 October 2002, Official Report, column 363W.

Arms Sales (Israel)

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement regarding the sale of arms to Israel.

Mike O'Brien: The UK arms trade with Israel is tiny. All relevant export licence applications are rigorously assessed on a case by case basis against the consolidated EU and national arms export licensing criteria, taking account of the circumstances prevailing at the time and other relevant announced Government policies. Our criteria clearly set out our commitment to take account of the risk that exports might be used for internal repression or external aggression. The outbreak of the intifada, continued Israeli incursions in the occupied territories and the Israeli breach of its assurance that UK originated equipment would not be used in the occupied territories have all been factored in to the Government's current export licensing policy.

Bali

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many consular officials there are in Bali.

Mike O'Brien: On 26 October there were 25 British officials (14 in the consular support team and 11 police family liaison officers) in Bali offering help and advice to those affected by the terrorist attack on 12 October. They are working alongside British-funded counsellors. We continue to monitor staffing requirements in Bali closely and will send more personnel as needed. A consular team will remain in Bali for at least the next three months.

Beef Supplies

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of the beef supply contracts for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and its agencies are sourced from Scottish herds.

Denis MacShane: holding answer 24 October 2002
	The FCO welcomes competitive offers of beef sourced from Scottish herds.

Bishkek Summit

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representatives from his Department will attend the Bishkek Global Mountain summit from 29 October to 1 November 2004.

Denis MacShane: holding answer 28 October 2002
	UK input will come from DFID staff based in Bishkek, who will be attending as observers.

Catherine Meyer

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the meeting between Baroness Amos and the hon. Member for Leicester, East concerning Catherine Meyer.

Mike O'Brien: My noble Friend the Baroness Amos and my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (Rosie Winterton) held a joint Ministerial meeting with my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, East (Keith Vaz) and Lady Meyer, at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 22 October 2002, to discuss Lady Meyer's consular case. A number of action points were agreed.

Cuba

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Cuba regarding the incarceration and treatment of Juan Carlos Gonzalez Leiva; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: Our Embassy in Havana raised Mr. Leiva's case last May with the Cuban Foreign Ministry. My noble Friend Baroness Amos raised human rights issues with the Cuban Vice-Foreign Minister during her visit to Havana in June.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the claims in the UN's Panel of Experts report on the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources in the Democratic Republic of Congo that British Aerospace spare parts for Zimbabwe Defence Force Hawk jets were supplied to the DRC early in 2002 in breach of European Union sanctions on Zimbabwe; what information he has on the role (a) Mr. John Bredenkamp, (b) the Aviation Consultancy Services Company and (c) other individuals or companies played in mediating those deals; who granted the export licences; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: We are looking into the UN panel report. We take seriously any allegation that the UK or EU arms embargoes on Zimbabwe may have been circumvented. Any action in the UK would be a matter for the relevant authorities. We are aware of allegations of past arms dealing activities by Mr. John Bredenkamp. I am unable to provide the precise information requested by the right hon. Member under Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has received concerning claims made in the UN's Panel of Experts report on the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources in the Democratic Republic of Congo that Aviation Consultancy Services Company represents British Aerospace; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: We are looking very closely at all allegations made in the report. Any alleged connexion between ACS and British Aerospace is a matter for British Aerospace.

Diego Garcia

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements are in place to permit United States military forces to use the air base in Diego Garcia; and what consultations have taken place with the Ilois islanders from Diego Garcia over military use of their islands.

Mike O'Brien: HMG have entered into a series of bilateral agreements with the United States which allows the territory to remain available for the defence needs of the two countries for an initial period of 50 years. These agreements also deal with the establishment and functioning of a US defence facility on Diego Garcia. There have been no consultations on the military use of the islands.

Exports (Iraq)

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the military exports to Iraq authorised for export since 17 March 1988.

Nigel Griffiths: I have been asked to reply.
	Details of all military exports to Iraq authorised since 2 May 1997 are published in the Government's Annual Reports on Strategic Export Controls. Copies of the 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001 Annual Reports are available in the Libraries of the House.
	For details of military exports to Iraq authorised between 1 January 2002 and 1 October 2002, I refer my hon. Friend to the reply from my right hon. Friend the Member for Neath (Mr. Hain) to my hon. Friend the Member for Coventry, North-West (Mr. Robinson) on 21 January 2002, Official Report, columns 578–579W, and to the replies from my hon. Friend the Member for Rotherham (Mr. MacShane) to my hon. Friends the Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr (Mr. Mahmood) on 18 June 2002, Official Report, columns 296–297W, and the Member for Lancaster and Wyre (Mr. Dawson) on 16 October 2002, Official Report, column 833W.

Friends of Scotland

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the events supported by UK embassies to promote the Friends of Scotland initiative in the past year.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the events held in UK embassies to promote the Friends of Scotland initiative in the past year.

Jack Straw: Diplomatic posts have hosted or supported the following events for the Friends of Scotland initiative:
	22 January 2002--British Chamber of Commerce lunch in Hong Kong
	23 January 2002--A business lunch in Guangzhou, China
	25 January 2002--A lunch with the St Andrew's Society of Selangor,
	Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
	17 June 2002--A reception in Halifax, Nova Scotia
	25 June 2002--A lunch in Amsterdam
	14 October 2002 reception in Sydney, Australia
	17 October 2002--A reception in Wellington, New Zealand
	18 October 2002—A reception in Dunedin, New Zealand
	20 October 2002-A- reception in Singapore
	The Advocate General for Scotland gave an address at the event on 17 June. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland gave an address at each of the events in January and October.

India

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has made to the Indian authorities in the last six months concerning the case of Professor Davinder Singh Bhullar.

Jack Straw: My Department has made no representations in the last six months concerning Davinder Singh Bhullar, but we are aware of his case. We understand that a final decision on Mr. Bhullar's appeal to the Indian Supreme Court is still awaited. Our High Commission in New Delhi will continue to follow the case along with EU partners.

India

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what representations have been made by Her Majesty's Government encouraging the Indian Government to grant access in the Punjab to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture;
	(2)  what representations his Department has made to the Indian authorities with regard to encouraging the granting of access to the Punjab by international human rights groups.

Jack Straw: We have made official level representations to the Government of India for greater general access to India of UN Special Rapporteurs and international human rights NGOs, although not specifically for their access to Punjab.
	We continue to encourage the Indian Government to ratify the UN Convention against Torture (CAT). My hon. Friend the Member for North Warwickshire (Mr. Mike O'Brien) most recently discussed this and a number of other human rights issues during his visit to India on 17 October.

India

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions (a) he and (b) other Ministers have had with the authorities in India about the use of and removal of land mines in that country.

Jack Straw: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Member for North Warwickshire (Mr. O'Brien) to my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Pound) on 25 June 2002, Official Report, column 791W. This remains our position.
	I warmly welcome the recent announcements of the Indian and Pakistani Governments to withdraw forces from their international border. I hope that further such de-escalatory measures by India and Pakistan will continue to reduce the regional tensions, and pave the way for a resumption of dialogue over Kashmir.

Iraq

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Syrian Government on potential British and US military intervention in Iraq; and what the policy of the Government of Syria is on the issue.

Mike O'Brien: I met the Syrian Ambassador on 26 September. UK and Syrian officials in both London and Damascus meet regularly to discuss a range of issues, including Iraq. There is also frequent contact between our officials at regular UN meetings in New York on Iraq. The Syrian Government's stated policy is to work for a peaceful resolution of the Iraqi issue. Syria has called both for Iraq to comply with its UN obligations and for the immediate return of UN weapons inspectors to Iraq.

Jordan

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans there are for the British Government to request the use of Jordanian airspace and territory for the use of their planes and ground forces for military intervention in Iraq.

Geoff Hoon: I have been asked to reply.
	No decision regarding the commitment of United Kingdom armed forces to any potential conflict in Iraq has yet been taken. Military action is neither imminent nor inevitable. It is not helpful to speculate on the sort of assistance we might seek from states in the region in the event that military action became necessary.

Nigeria

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many hon. Members have made representations to him on the subject of alleged human rights abuses in Nigeria.

Denis MacShane: holding answer 28 October 2002
	During the last two months the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has received more than 70 letters from hon. Members on human rights abuses in Nigeria. The majority of the correspondence has been about Amina Lawal, sentenced to death by stoning for adultery.

Pakistan

Diana Organ: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of President Musharraf's ability to curb religious fundamentalism and terrorism in South Asia, with reference to the recent electoral success of religious extremist groups in two provinces of Pakistan.

Mike O'Brien: We welcomed President Musharraf's courageous decision to join the international coalition against terrorism. In a speech on 12 January, he condemned all forms of sectarianism and religious hatred. He has also taken steps against militancy in Pakistan and banned five terrorist groups. Pakistan continues to be a staunch ally in the continuing campaign against al-Qaeda. We will continue to encourage Pakistan to sustain these efforts. It is too early to assess the impact the religious parties will have on Pakistan's policies. We have no reason to doubt Pakistan's continuing commitment to act against terrorism wherever it occurs.

Sikh Community

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will meet representatives of the Sikh community following the postponement of meetings on 6 August and 11 September, and for what reason the latter meeting was postponed.

Jack Straw: My hon. Friend the Member for North Warwickshire (Mr. O'Brien) had planned to meet a number of Sikh organisations on 11 September and was keen that the meeting should be with as broad a cross-section as possible of representatives of different Sikh groups. Many of our contacts were unable to attend on 11 September, and we therefore decided to postpone the meeting to another date. We hope to arrange a new date for a meeting soon.

South Asia

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the sequence of activities required to decrease tensions in the South Asian region.

Mike O'Brien: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary warmly welcomed the announcements by India to withdraw forces from the international border and Pakistan to withdraw forces from the international border and Line of Control. These are positive steps towards the reduction of tensions in the region. We hope that this will be followed by further de- escalatory moves on both sides that will lead to a resumption of dialogue between India and Pakistan. Only peaceful dialogue can lead to a lasting solution of the Kashmir issue.

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the level of abductions and slavery in the Sudan.

Denis MacShane: holding answer 28 October 2002
	There have been no new confirmed cases of abduction during 2002. The majority of abductions in recent years have been associated with the Government train to Bahr al Ghazal. We and our EU partners have made representations to the Government, urging suspension of the train until peace is achieved and an end to encouragement for armed horsemen (murahiliin) militias. The train has not operated this year.

Torture

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries the Government categorise as using torture.

Denis MacShane: holding answer 28 October 2002
	Torture is inflicted on men, women and children in almost half the countries of the world. The UK believes that torture has no place in the 21st century and is therefore committed to combating torture everywhere. In October 1998 the UK launched an initiative to tackle torture throughout the world. Phase 3 of this initiative was launched in June this year. Over the four years of the anti-torture initiative the UK has established the reputation of having one of the strongest anti-torture stances in Europe. As part of the initiative the UK has been lobbying countries worldwide to ratify the UN Convention against Torture. Since our campaign was launched, 20 new states have ratified, bringing the total to 130. However, the Convention against Torture still remains the least ratified of all the UN human rights treaties.

Torture Allegations (Bahrain)

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress with the police investigation into the allegations made against a person whose name has been made known to him concerning alleged involvement in torture while Head of the Bahraini Security and Intelligence Service.

Mike O'Brien: This is a matter for the Police.

Travel Warnings

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what methods of issuing travel warnings to British citizens are regularly employed in addition to notices on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website; and what change there has been in the use of each other method of issuing travel warnings to British citizens since the advent of the FCO website.

Mike O'Brien: Since 1996 the FCO have published travel advice on the FCO website. The advice is accessed regularly by the travel industry and members of the public. Many regular users arrange to receive automatic updates when travel advice changes, by using the "automatic update facility" on the FCO site.
	In addition to this service, those seeking travel advice can contact the Travel Advice Unit during working hours by fax or telephone. A further 30 organisations receive daily faxed updates from the Travel Advice Unit. Travel advice, covering countries and areas to which the FCO either advise against all travel or all non-essential travel, are also published on CEEFAX (page 474). Significant changes in travel advice are also announced via press statements. CEEFAX (page 471) gives contact information for the Travel Advice Unit, and the website address, from which comprehensive travel advice may be obtained. Our posts overseas have discretion to issue local advisories, with information and advice of particular interest to the expatriate community. This is disseminated in a variety of ways, depending upon local circumstances. In countries where we have a warden network we ask wardens to pass on significant changes in travel advice.
	The FCO has gone to great lengths to improve and to maximise awareness of our travel advice. The Know Before You Go (KBYG) campaign, launched in June 2001, is a market transformation campaign made up of three main strands: the FCO website, strategic partnerships and PR. The key campaign message is simple and applies to everyone: know before you go—get travel insurance and check the FCO travel advice before you go.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Violent Crime

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment he has made of the level of violent crime in the London Borough of Havering.

John Denham: In 2001–02 there were a total of 3,947 violent offences in Havering.
	It should be noted that recorded violent crime is not necessarily an accurate guide to trends in violent crime, as it is subject to changes in reporting and recording. For example, in the British Crime Survey, for England and Wales as a whole, the number of common assaults showed a statistically significant decrease of 24 per cent. between 1999 and interviews during 2001/02, whereas common assaults recorded by the police in England and Wales increased by 15 per cent. over the same period.

Violent Crime

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what affect the decision in the Ahmadi case has had on his asylum policy; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: The ruling does not impact on our general policy regarding third country transfers under the Dublin Convention. Nor does it affect the operation of Section 11 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. The case impacts on the Secretary of State's power to certify human rights claims as manifestly unfounded where certain types of medical evidence are in issue. We are disappointed that the High Court took the view it did on the particular facts of this case. An appeal against the decision has been lodged with the Court of Appeal. The family's separate appeal to the Independent Appellate Authority has been listed for hearing.

Violent Crime

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in relation to communications data, how many times (a) the Security Services and (b) each police force sought access to such data from communications providers such as Internet service providers in the last year; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: The Metropolitan Police made approximately 155,000 requests for communications date to be passed to them under the Data Protection Act 1998. Figures for each police force are not collected centrally. It is policy not to comment on the operational matters of the Security Service.

Accommodation Centres (Education)

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what duties local schools will have to admit children living in accommodation centres.

Stephen Twigg: I have been asked to reply.
	Clause 35(2) of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill provides that a child who is a resident of an accommodation centre may not be admitted to a maintained school or a maintained nursery. However, clause 36 enables an LEA to disapply that provision and to arrange for the education of a child residing in an accommodation centre. In such circumstances the LEA may require the admission of a child to a maintained school, after consulting the school's governing body. However, the LEA cannot require the governing body of a school to admit a child if the child's admission will result in special measures to ensure compliance with the Secretary of State's limits on infant class sizes.

Accommodation Centres (Education)

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the teaching unions on his proposals to educate some children seeking asylum in accommodation centres.

Beverley Hughes: There have been no discussions with the teaching unions on the proposals to educate some children of asylum seekers in accommodation centres. However, officials in the Department for Education and Skills have established an advisory group with representatives from the Local Government Association (LGA) and the local education authorities in the areas where centres are planned.

Accommodation Centres (Education)

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to set out in law the role of the LEA in the delivery of education in accommodation centres.

Stephen Twigg: I have been asked to reply.
	Clause 35 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill specifies which LEA duties are not to apply in respect of children living in accommodation centres. Clause 36(3) empowers the Secretary of State to provide guidance to be followed by LEAs when using their power to arrange for the provision of education in accommodation centres. Such guidance can also offer further information as to the role of LEAs in the delivery of education for children living in the centres.

Asylum Applications

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his policy is on applications for asylum by individuals citing threats from a blood feud as a basis for their application; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Hughes: Applications for asylum in the United Kingdom are considered individually on their merits in accordance with the UK's obligations under the 1951 UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1967 Protocol. Unless the applicant may reasonably be expected to seek asylum in a third country or the Dublin Convention applies, asylum is granted where the applicant fulfils the criteria in the 1951 UN Convention.
	Where an application is based on a blood feud, then we will assess whether the circumstances are knowingly tolerated by the authorities in the country concerned, whether they are unwilling or unable to offer effective protection, or whether the applicant could reasonably have been expected to seek the protection of the authorities, or moved to another part of the country where he or she would be safe.

Asylum Seekers

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he next plans to meet Scottish Executive ministers to discuss the impact of the Government's asylum policies on Scotland.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 24 October 2002
	Immigration and asylum are reserved issues. The Under-Secretary of State at the Scotland Office my hon. Friend the Member for Stirling (Mrs. McGuire) and I met the Scottish Minister for Social Justice (Margaret Curran) on 12 September; a further meeting will be arranged shortly. Home Office officials are also in regular contact with their counterparts in the Scottish Executive about the impact of the Government's asylum policies in Scotland.

Asylum Seekers

Martin Linton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of those who have sought asylum in the United Kingdom in each month in (a) 2001 and (b) 2002 have come from Somalia.

Beverley Hughes: The information requested is given in the table.
	
		Applications received for asylum in the United Kingdom (excluding dependants), total and Somalia, January 2001 and June 2002(26),(27)
		
			 Month Total applications Applications from national of Somalia  
			   Percentage of total 
		
		
			 Jan-01 6,850 520 8 
			 Feb-01 5,935 385 7 
			 Mar-01 6,120 480 8 
			 Apr-01 5,050 435 9 
			 May-01 5,315 500 9 
			 Jun-01 5,525 520 9 
			 Jul-01 6,155 725 12 
			 Aug-01 6,590 845 13 
			 Sep-01 6,120 700 11 
			 Oct-01 6,480 550 9 
			 Nov-01 5,770 420 7 
			 Dec-01 5,455 385 7 
			 Jan-02 6,575 470 7 
			 Feb-02 6,415 380 6 
			 Mar-02 6,530 450 7 
			 Apr-02 6,475 455 7 
			 May-02 7,510 550 7 
			 Jun-02 6,415 445 7 
		
	
	(26) Figures (other than percentages) rounded to the nearest five.
	(27) Data are provisional.
	Note:
	Information on asylum applications is published quarterly. The next publication will cover the third quarter (July to September) of 2002 and will be available from 29 November 2002 on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

Asylum Support

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what statistics are held by (a) the National Asylum Support Service and (b) the Home Office Immigration and Nationality Directorate relating to the length of time asylum applicants have been in the UK before making an application for support.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 24 October 2002
	There are no statistics available on the length of time asylum applicants have been in the UK before making an application for support.
	There is, however, evidence that a proportion of applications for asylum will have been made by someone who has been in the country for some time. Since a person cannot apply for asylum support until they have applied for asylum, it can be similarly inferred that this will also be the case for support applications

Child Prostitution

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children have been trafficked into the UK and forced into prostitution in each of the past five years; from what countries the children came; and if he will make a statement.

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children have been trafficked into the UK in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: There is currently no criminal offence of trafficking. Criminal statistics which might give an indication of how many children have been trafficked into the UK in each of the past five years, and from where they came, are not therefore available. The Nationality and Immigration and Asylum Bill currently before the House will introduce a new offence of trafficking for the purposes of controlling an individual in prostitution.
	Forming an accurate estimate of the levels of trafficking in people is problematic given the reluctance of the victims of trafficking to report to the police. There is currently no accurate, reliable data in existence within the UK or the European Union.
	A Home Office research study 'Stopping Traffic' (Police Research Series 125, published in 2000) indicated that there was intelligence to suggest that some women and children are trafficked into the UK for the purposes of sexual exploitation. This was estimated at between 140 and 1,400 per year but it was impossible to make a more accurate assessment of numbers. The report concluded that there was no evidence to suggest that this was on a large scale compared with other European countries.

Correspondence

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many recorded delivery items addressed to Lunar House, 40 Wellesley Road, Croydon, are missing; and when he will reply to a letter from the hon. Member for Rochford and Southend, East relating to Mr. and Mrs. Ajaz Khan dated 1 September reference 18156/2.

Beverley Hughes: This information is not available. Items of recorded delivery post addressed to Lunar House, but not delivered, are the responsibility of the Royal Mail. All recorded delivery items received in Lunar House are logged into a computer database, together with a record of where in the organisation they have been sent.
	I wrote to the hon. Member on 18 October about the case of Mr. and Mrs. Khan.

Correspondence

Mr. Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the recent performance of the Immigration and Nationality Department Board in answering letters from (a) hon. Members and (b) the public.

Beverley Hughes: Information on all correspondence received by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND), is not recorded centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. IND received over 1 million pieces of correspondence during 2001–02, and systems are not yet in place to identify whether responses were given to all categories of correspondence received.
	Figures will be available shortly on IND's performance in answering letters from hon. Members from 1 September 2002 and I will write to the hon. Member as soon as these are available.
	We are developing measures to record and track all categories of correspondence. The Home Office Customer Communication Foundation Project was suspended last November and has now been replaced by a short term/tactical Correspondence Tracking System (CTS) Project to address the handling of correspondence and the provision of accurate management information. The project is due to begin on 1 November and will be rolled out for operational use over the coming 12 months. IND's ministerial, official and public correspondence are all included in the intended scope of the project. The CTS project is part of a raft of measures to improve IND's customer service delivery which will be developed over the coming year, in which customer communications will feature strongly.

Home Detention Curfews

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to change the home detention curfew period; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: On 5 February, Official Report, column 866W, the Government announced plans to lengthen the maximum curfew period from 60 to 90 days. Today we are presenting to Parliament an Order to enact that proposal. The Order will come into force on 16 December 2002, subject to the approval of both Houses. Eligible prisoners serving between eight months and under four years who pass a risk assessment will be released on Home Detention Curfew (HDC) to spend the latter part of their sentence at home for a period of up to 90 days depending on sentence length. There will be no change in the maximum curfew length for prisoners serving between three months and under eight months. They will continue to serve between 15 and up to 60 days on curfew. In all cases offenders not statutory excluded will be subject to a risk assessment and released on HDC only where it is safe to do so.
	Under the HDC scheme prisoners serve the remainder of their custody period at home under electronic curfew usually from 7pm and 7am. At any one time we expect this measure will remove up to 600 prisoners from prison accommodation in addition to the 2,400 who are already on the scheme. The impact of these arrangements will be kept under close review.

Illegal Entrants

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many illegal immigrants who were suspected victims of trafficking have been deported from the UK in each of the past five years; from which countries they came; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: The number of people removed as a result of illegal entry action in each of the past five years is given in the table. I regret that the information requested on those removed who were suspected victims of trafficking and the country from which they came is not available.
	
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001(28) 
		
		
			 Illegal entry action(28) 4,540 5,585 5,225 6,115 6,760 
			 Of whom: 
			 principal asylum applicants(29) 2,605 3,095 2,615 2,820 3,775 
			 Of whom: 
			 non-asylum cases 1,935 2,485 2,610 3,290 2,985 
		
	
	(28) Figures for 2001 have been estimated.
	(29) Persons who had sought asylum at some stage. Figures exclude 200 dependants of asylum seekers removed as a result of enforcement action in the period April to December 2001; data on the dependants of asylum seekers removed have only been collected since April 2001.

National Confiscation Agency

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how much money, attained through the proceeds of corruption in developing countries, has been confiscated by the National Confiscation Agency each year since 1999;
	(2)  what efforts are being made to channel money, attained through the proceeds of corruption in developing countries and confiscated through the National Confiscation Agency, back to the country of origin

Bob Ainsworth: None. Since 1999, no sums have been realised by any of the criminal justice agencies from confiscation orders relating to corruption in developing countries. The Assets Recovery Agency, the body established under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 to investigate and recover unlawfully held assets, will not commence operations until early in the new year.
	I should add that the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 also brings forward the point at which assets may be restrained to the start of a criminal investigation. At present, restraint is only possible when proceedings have or are about to be instituted which may be too late to prevent assets from being dissipated. The international co-operation provisions of Part 11 of the Act will also enable co-operation to be provided without
	the need to designate overseas authorities for assistance, enabling assistance to be given much more readily when cases arise.
	In this context I should also note two new provisions which should assist in combating corruption in developing countries. Section 108 of the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 ensures that foreign agents are covered by the law on bribery and corruption. Section 109 extends UK jurisdiction in respect of acts committed abroad by UK nationals and bodies incorporated under UK law which would amount to corruption offences if committed here. These provisions were brought into force on 14 February 2002. The confiscation provisions in the Proceeds of Crime Act will apply to these offences, following conviction of an offender where the offender has benefited from his conduct.
	Arrangements exist for the UK to share sums realised on behalf of another jurisdiction following enforcement of an overseas confiscation order. As a general rule the maximum amount which can be shared with a requesting country is 50 per cent. of the sum realised once enforcement costs have been deducted. However, the UK is prepared in principle to return 100 per cent. (following deduction of recovery costs) of any assets that are the proceeds of corruption, and have been the subject of a confiscation order enforced in the UK courts.
	In May 2002 a Department for International Development (DFID) conference was held to advise developing countries as to how they could seek assistance from the UK in investigating, freezing and confiscating assets of criminal origin which are believed to be located in the UK.
	The UN Corruption Convention, currently under negotiation in Vienna, will also require all UN member states to address the issue of returning the proceeds of corruption to the country of origin. The UK Government is actively proposing, including in EU Common Position, that the UN Corruption Convention should favour the return of assets plundered from state funds by corrupt leaders.

Parent Abuse

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the policy pursued by his Department towards parents abused by their own children;
	(2)  what discussions his Department has had with groups representing parents who have been abused by their children.

Jacqui Smith: I have been asked to reply.
	Incidents of abuse are of huge concern to the Government no matter what the source. As a civilised society we must have the determination to confront abuse wherever it occurs.
	As part of our integrated approach to combating abuse we launched our guidance XNo Secrets" on the protection of vulnerable adults in March 2000. Local authorities and other authorities had to develop their own locally based codes of practice and ensure that they were developed and implemented by 31 October 2001.
	The Department has had no discussions with groups representing parents who have been abused by their children.

People Trafficking

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many suspected victims of trafficking who have been deported have re-entered the UK in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: I regret that the information requested on those removed as suspected victims of trafficking and the number who have re-entered the country is not available.

People Trafficking

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases his Department has granted leave to remain on an exceptional basis to victims of people trafficking in the last five years.

Beverley Hughes: I regret that the information requested is not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost by examination of individual case files.

Race Equality (Scotland)

Claire Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will bring forward the Commission for Racial Equality's draft statutory code of practice on the duty to promote race equality in Scotland.

Beverley Hughes: The Commission for Racial Equality's draft statutory Code of Practice on the duty to promote race equality in Scotland has today been laid before Parliament.
	The statutory Code of Practice will offer practical guidance to public authorities in Scotland on how to meet their general and specific duties to promote race equality. Once the statutory Code of Practice is brought into effect it will be admissible in evidence in any legal action, and a court or tribunal should take relevant provisions of the Code of Practice into account.

LORD CHANCELLOR

Child Abduction Unit

Keith Vaz: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will make a statement on the number of people in the Child Abduction Unit.

Rosie Winterton: The Child Abduction Unit has, since 1992, operated from within the office of the Official Solicitor and Public Trustee. It has two full-time members of staff, a manager with seven years experience of this work and three additional staff to provide cover where necessary. A senior lawyer within the OS/PT office provides legal advice.

Court Service

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans she has to downgrade Cheltenham County Court; and if she will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: The Court Service report, Modernising the Civil and Family Courts, published on 23 May 2002 set out a vision of a new business model for the civil and family courts. The aim is to increase the choices for people who need to use the courts; reduce social exclusion in the system of justice; and improve the use of technology in the courts to enhance service. Under the proposals Cheltenham County Court would become a part-time local hearing venue on the basis that, on average, it currently has hearings on fewer than three days per week.
	We will be consulting on our proposals for the court network next year. During this period, the views of all those with an interest in the future status of Cheltenham County will be canvassed. The consultation will include Members of Parliament.

Government Information (Disclosure)

Graham Allen: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will list the statutory provisions prohibiting the disclosure of Government information which have been introduced since May 1997.

Yvette Cooper: It has not been possible in the time available to identify all the relevant legislation containing such prohibitions. The Lord Chancellor will report in November on progress of the Government's review of all legislation which prohibits disclosure of information. I will write to the hon. Member with the information he seeks before then and place a copy of my reply in the library of the House.

Halloran v. Delaney

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make statement on the case of Halloran v.Delaney and its effect on funding personal injury cases.

Rosie Winterton: We are considering the implications of this Court of Appeal judgment and how it relates to the House of Lords judgment in Gallery v. Gray. As the time limit for seeking leave to appeal to the House of Lords in Halloran v. Delaney has not elapsed it would be inappropriate to comment any further.

King Edward VIII

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he will announce the result of his review of the status of papers relating to the abdication of King Edward VIII; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on this subject on 11 June 2002, Official Report, column 118W. Any official papers relating to the abdication of King Edward VIII will need to be re-reviewed by Departments. It is hoped that the results of the review will be known and put into effect by the end of the year.

Knutsford Crown Court

George Osborne: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he expects to make a decision on the proposed closure of Knutsford Crown court.

Yvette Cooper: Following the responses received during public consultation and our own meeting on 23 July, I have asked for careful consideration to be given to all the real concerns raised. I expect to be able to make a decision on the future of the Crown court at Knutsford early in the new year. In the meantime, I can assure the hon. Member that the building will remain as a Crown court centre.

Knutsford Crown Court

George Osborne: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department for what reason the decision on the planned closure of Knutsford Crown court has been delayed.

Yvette Cooper: Following the responses received during public consultation and our own meeting on 23 July, I have asked for careful consideration to be given to all the real concerns raised. Full and proper consideration must be given to all the facts before any decisions are made. The future of the court must be seen in context of the overall number of Crown court sitting days required in Wales and the North West of England.

Magistrates Courts

William Cash: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the name and date of closure of each magistrates' court that has closed since May 1997, by parliamentary constituency.

Yvette Cooper: Magistrates' courts are the responsibility of locally based Magistrates' Courts Committees (MCCs) and are a locally managed service.
	Decisions to close individual courthouses are made by the local MMCs, with procedures for appeal. There have been 96 magistrates' courthouses closed since May 1997 in England and Wales, as set out in the table as follows. These have been listed in MMC area to which they belonged as information about which parliamentary constituency each MCC is a member of could not be obtained within the timescale. MCC area to which they belonged as information about which parliamentary constituency each MCC is a member of could not be obtained within the timescale.
	
		
			 MCC Magistrates' Courthouse Closure Date 
		
		
			 Bedfordshire Apmthill 1 January 2000 
			 Bedfordshire Biggleswade 1 January 2000 
			 Bedfordshire Dunstable 1 January 2000 
			 Bedfordshire Leighton Buzzard 1 January 2000 
			 Cambridgeshire March 31 December 1998 
			 Cheshire Warrington Patten Hall 1 April 2001 
			 Cheshire Macclesfield Park Green 1 April 2001 
			 Cumbria Keswick 30 April 2000 
			 Cumbria Appleby 31 May 2000 
			 Cumbria Windermere 31 May-2000 
			 Cumbria Wigton 31 May 2000 
			 Derbyshire Alfreton 1 January 2001 
			 Derbyshire Ashbourne 1 January 2001 
			 Derbyshire Bakewell 1 January 2001 
			 Derbyshire Matlock 1 January 2001 
			 Devon and Cornwall Bideford 30 April 2001 
			 Devon and Cornwall Exmouth 30 April 2001 
			 Devon and Cornwall Kingsbridge 30 April 2001 
			 Devon and Cornwall South Molton 30 April 2001 
			 Devon and Cornwall Teignmouth 30 April 2001 
			 Devon and Cornwall Tavistock 30 April 2001 
			 Devon and Cornwall Axminster 4 May 2001 
			 Devon and Cornwall Tiverton 4 May 2001 
			 Devon and Cornwall Newquay 30 June 2001 
			 Dorset Christchurch 31 March 1999 
			 Dorset Gillingham 30 September 2001 
			 Durham Barnard Castle 31 December 1998 
			 Essex Braintree 31 December 1997 
			 Essex Clacton on Sea 31 October 1997 
			 Essex Saffron Walden 31 December 1998 
			 Gloucestershire Stow on the Wold 30 June 1999 
			 Greater London Marlborough Street 31 March 1998 
			 Greater London Clerkenwell 31 December 1998 
			 Greater Manchester Ashton under Lyne (Manchester Road) 31 August 1997 
			 Greater Manchester Duckinsfield 31 August 1997 
			 Greater Manchester Leigh 31 March 2001 
			 Greater Manchester Middleton 31 March 2001 
			 Gwent Bargoed 31 December 1997 
			 Gwent Monmouth 31 December 1997 
			 Gwent Pontlottyn 31 December 1997 
			 Gwent Pontypool 31 December 1997 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight Southampton (Commercial Road) 31 August2001 
			 Hertfordshire Bishop's Stortford 31 March 1998 
			 Hertfordshire Hatfield 31 March 1998 
			 Hertfordshire Hitchin 31 March 1998 
			 Humberside Bridlington 9 November 2001 
			 Humberside Brough 9 November 2001 
			 Humberside Driffieid 9 November 2001 
			 Humberside Hull (Guildhall) 9 November 2001 
			 Humberside Hull (Lowgate) 9 November 2001 
			 Humberside Pocklington 9 November 2001 
			 Humberside Withernsea 9 November 2001 
			 Kent Sheerness 31 December 1998 
			 Kent West Mailing 31 December 1998 
			 Kent Gravesend 9 June 2000 
			 Lancashire Lytham 31 -December 1998 
			 Leicestershire Lutterworth 31 July 1998 
			 Lincolnshire Market Rasen 31 –March 1998 
			 Norfolk Diss 31 December 1998 
			 Norfolk Fakenham 1 May 2002 
			 North Wales Corwen 31 December 1998 
			 North Wales Abergele 31 December 2000 
			 North Yorkshire Stokesley 31 December 1997 
			 North Yorkshire Malton 6 February 1998 
			 North Yorkshire Ripon l August 1998 
			 Northumbria Hebburn 5 June 1997 
			 Northumbria South Shields (Kepple Street) 5 June 1997 
			 South Wales Pontardawe 9 October 1997 
			 South Yorkshire Thorne 31 August 1997 
			 Staffordshire Lichfield 31 March 2000 
			 Staffordshire Leek 31 March 2001 
			 Staffordshire Womborne 1 September 2001 
			 Suffolk Felixstowe 31 -December 1998 
			 Suffolk Haverhill 31 December 1998 
			 Suffolk Saxmundham 31 December 1998 
			 Suffolk Stowmarket 31 December 1998 
			 Suffolk Newmarket 31 December 1998 
			 Surrey Chertsey 31 March 1998 
			 Surrey Farnham 31 March 1998 
			 Surrey Oxted 31 March 1998 
			 Sussex Arundel 1 December 2001 
			 Thames Valley Abingdon 31 March 1999 
			 Thames Valley Henley on Thames 31 March 1999 
			 Thames Valley Windsor 31 March 1999 
			 Thames Valley Beaconsfield 1 July 2002 
			 Thames Valley Buckingham 1 July 2002 
			 West Mercia Bromsgrove 31 May 1997 
			 West Mercia Worcester 31 March 2001 
			 West Mercia Bridgenorth 31 January 2002 
			 West Mercia Leominster 31 January 2002 
			 West Mercia Ledbury 31 May 1997 
			 West Yorkshire Morley 31 March 1999 
			 West Yorkshire Pudsey 31 March 1999 
			 West Yorkshire Keighley 1 April 2000  
			 Wiltshire Chippenham (Market Place) 30 June 1997 
			 Wiltshire Wootton Bassett 2 October 2000

Magistrates Courts

William Cash: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many magistrates courts in (a) England and (b) Wales opened in each year since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: 14 magistrates courthouses have opened in the years 1997–2002 in England and Wales. Chippenham in 1997, Birmingham (youth), Southshields and Ashton under Lyne in 1998, Cannock in 1999, Hinckley in 2000, Southampton, Peterlee, Hull, Beverley, Bridlington, Kidderminster and Hereford in 2001, and Worcester in 2002.

PACT

Keith Vaz: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what proposals he has to assist PACT.

Rosie Winterton: My Department will consider with PACT (Parents and Abducted Children Together) and other organisations how to improve awareness of the procedures involved in using the Hague Convention provisions.

Upper Age Bars

John MacDougall: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department for what reason people over the age of 70 are barred from (a) being magistrates and (b) jury service.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 21 October 2002
	(a) The upper age for serving as a magistrate was set by Parliament after wide consultation and was generally supported. It enables individual magistrates to continue to make a contribution to the administration of justice for a long time.
	(b) The Juries Act 1974 set the upper age limit for jury service at 65. This limit was later increased to 70 by the Criminal Justice Act 1988. The recent review of the Criminal Justice System by Lord Justice Auld, which considered the structure and representation of juries made no recommendation on increasing the upper age limit for jury service.

SCOTLAND

Friends of Scotland

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 
	(1)  if she will list her Department's staff members working (a) full-time and (b) part-time for the Friends of Scotland Unit, broken down by location of work.
	(2)  how many staff have been seconded from the private sector to work for the Friends of Scotland initiative since its inception in 2001; and from which organisations these individuals have been seconded.

Helen Liddell: There are currently two officials working full-time on the Friends of Scotland project. A further five officials give assistance on the project when required. Both full-time officials are based in Glasgow.
	Two members of staff have been seconded from the private sector, both from the Bank of Scotland (HBOS plc).

Friends of Scotland

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 
	(1)  if she will list the events run (a) in Scotland, (b) in London, (c) in other locations within the UK and (d) outside the UK by Friends of Scotland since its inception in 2001;
	(2)  if she will list the events her Department has run jointly with the Scottish Executive to promote Friends of Scotland and the GlobalScot initiatives.

Helen Liddell: The events run by the Scotland Office in furtherance of the Friends of Scotland initiative have been as follows:
	
		
			  Events 
		
		
			 (a) In Scotland  
			 22 July 2002 A business lunch in Edinburgh 
			 13 August 2002 A reception in Edinburgh for cultural attaches from diplomatic missions in London 
			   
			 (b) In London  
			 27 November 2001 The Friends of Scotland launch event in the Banqueting House, Whitehall 
			 11 June 2002 A business dinner in Dover House, Whitehall 
			 15 June 2002 A reception in Dover House, Whitehall 
			 23 July 2002 A reception for the launch of the Friends of Scotland website in Dover House, Whitehall 
			   
			 (c) Elsewhere in the UK None 
			   
			 (d) Outside the UK  
			 23 January 2002 A business lunch in Guangzhou, China 
			 14 October 2002 A reception in Sydney, Australia 
		
	
	The events run jointly by the Scotland Office and the Scottish Executive for the Friends of Scotland and GlobalScot initiatives were the dinner in London on 11 June and the reception in Sydney on 14 October.

Friends of Scotland

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 
	(1)  on which date the Friends of Scotland website was established;
	(2)  if she will list the (a) start-up and (b) maintenance costs of the Friends of Scotland website;
	(3)  what marketing her Department carried out on behalf of Friends of Scotland to promote the launch of the Friends of Scotland website;
	(4)  how many visits the Friends of Scotland website has received in each month since it was first established;
	(5)  how many (a) organisations and (b) individuals have registered their interest in Friends of Scotland through the initiative's website since its inception; and if she will list them by country of residence;
	(6)  if she will list the reasons given by organisations and individuals for registering their interest in the Friends of Scotland initiative, as submitted to the initiative's website;
	(7)  how many (a) organisations and (b) individuals have registered to receive e-mail updates from the Friends of Scotland website; and if she will list them by country of residence;
	(8)  how many e-postcards have been sent from the Friends of Scotland website in each month since it was first published.

Helen Liddell: The current Friends of Scotland website was established on 23 July 2002. The start-up cost was #62,623; the cost of subsequent maintenance and development to date has amounted to #4,711. The launch of the website was announced at a reception held in the Scotland Office on 23 July.
	The website has received the following number of visits in each month since it was established:
	
		
			  Number of visits 
		
		
			 July 826 
			 August 2,046 
			 September 3,261 
			 October (up to 24) 3,451 
		
	
	The website has attracted 32 registrations of interest since its inception. Individuals registering their own interest and those registering on behalf of an organisation cannot be differentiated. The breakdown of the total by country of residence is as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 UK 20 
			 Australia 3 
			 New Zealand 2 
			 Canada 1 
			 Japan 1 
			 USA 2 
			 Belgium 1 
			 Germany 1 
			 unknown 1 
		
	
	Those registering their names have cited interests in culture, education and business.
	Seventy individuals have registered to receive e-mail updates from the website. A breakdown of this figure by country of residence is not available.
	The number of e-postcards sent from the website during the period up to 24 October 2002 was 80. A month by month breakdown of this figure is not available.
	Letters have been sent to key influencers around the world inviting them to access the website. Arising from this exercise, 136 recruits have been secured for Friends of Scotland.

Friends of Scotland

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what expenditure has been budgeted for by her Department to support the Friends of Scotland initiative during the financial year 2002–03.

Helen Liddell: A budget of #260,000 has been allocated for the current financial year. This figure does not include staffing costs.

Friends of Scotland

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 
	(1)  if she will list the dates and locations of meetings of the Advisory Board to Friends of Scotland since its inception in 2001;
	(2)  if she will list the costs of meetings of the Advisory Board to Friends of Scotland since its inception in 2001 in terms of (a) travel expenses, (b) refreshment costs and (c) other expenses.

Helen Liddell: The Friends of Scotland Advisory Group's first meeting was on 18 December 2001 in London. Its second meeting was on 1 March 2002 in Glasgow. Its third and most recent meeting was held on 20 May 2002 in Edinburgh.
	The costs of the Advisory Group's meetings have been (a) #1,440 and (b) #278. There have been no other separately identifiable costs (c).

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

BCCI

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assistance her Department is giving to the liquidator of BCCI so that the liquidation can be concluded.

Melanie Johnson: The progress of the liquidation of BCCI is a matter for the liquidators.

Business Start-ups

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many companies were set up in Somerset; and how many went into liquidation in (a) 1999–2000, (b) 2000–01 and (c) 2001–02.

Melanie Johnson: The only official measure of business starts-ups is VAT registration data. These are based on calendar years.
	
		Start-ups: VAT registrations Somerset county
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1999 1,415 
			 2000 1,560 
			 2001 1,390 
		
	
	Source:
	Business start-ups and closures 1980–2001
	There is no single area that reports company and individual insolvencies for Somerset.

Car Pricing Order

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps have been taken to monitor the implementation and impact of the car pricing order; if a progress report will be published; and if she will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: Responsibility for monitoring the car pricing order and investigating allegations of anti-competitive behaviour lies with the Director General of Fair Trading.
	His office is keeping the order under review.
	The order is one of several factors influencing car prices. These include a renegotiated block exemption from EU competition rules for vehicle supply and servicing introduced on 1 October 2002.

Customs and Excise

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he proposes to take in the light of the House of Lords decision Customs and Excise v. Plantiflor Ltd.

John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
	The judgment of the House of Lords confirms the view of Customs and Excise that Plantiflor should account for VAT on delivery charges as part of the total price of the goods it supplies. On 20 August 2002 Customs and Excise issued business brief (number 23/2002) which gives full background details on the issue and provides guidance on action to be taken by all affected businesses. It is available in the Library of the House and can also be accessed from the Central Office of Information website at: www.nds.coi.gov.uk.

Doorstep Selling

Martin Linton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the number of energy companies using doorstep selling to encourage people to switch companies; and what plans she has further to regulate doorstep selling.

Brian Wilson: Doorstep sales are used in a number of markets, including gas and electricity supply. Since the introduction of domestic gas and electricity supply competition, such sales have been a useful way of bringing the benefits of competition, particularly access to lower prices, to the attention of customers. Consumers are protected under the Doorstep Selling Regulations, which were enhanced in 1998, and are enforced by local Trading Standards departments. At present, the Government have no plans to introduce further regulation. Gas and electricity consumers are further protected by specific regulations in supply licences, which are the responsibility of the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (OFGEM). Where appropriate, OFGEM takes investigative and enforcement action against suppliers that breach these conditions.

Energy Market Liberalisation

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress she has made on EU-wide discussions on liberalising energy markets; and if she will make a statement.

Brian Wilson: We fully support the Commission's proposals for the liberalisation of the EU energy market. Council discussions on the dossier are at an advanced stage and the Danish Presidency hopes to reach political agreement at the November Energy Council. We will be negotiating constructively to ensure a satisfactory outcome.

European Working Time Directive

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what representations her Department has received on the forum considering the implementation of the European Directive on Working Time in the offshore oil and gas industry;
	(2)  what recent discussions she has had with representatives of the offshore oil and gas industry on the implementation of the European Working Time Directive in that industry;
	(3)  what recent discussions she has had with representatives of workers employed in the offshore oil and gas industry on the implementation of the European Working Time Directive in that industry.

Alan Johnson: The Horizontal Amending Directive (HAD) (2000/34/EC) entitles workers in the offshore sector to the full provisions of the Working Time Directive (93/104/EC). The HAD was formally adopted on 1 August 2000 and is required to be implemented by 1 August 2003.
	I have met with representatives of the offshore oil and gas industry, on 5 September, and have agreed to meet representatives of the Inter Union Offshore Oil Committee (IUOOC) to listen to their views on the implementation of the HAD to workers offshore.
	A forum, comprising representatives from all sides of the sector and facilitated by the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS), was set up to assist employers and worker representatives to reach agreement over the implementation of the HAD in the offshore sector. The forum was unable to reach agreement on many issues and DTI officials continue to hold discussions and correspond with those from both sides of the industry.

Export Licences

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has had following the recent award of an export licence for F-16s to Israel; and if she will make a statement.

Nigel Griffiths: The Export Control Organisation has received representations regarding the grant of export licences for parts, sub-systems and components to the USA for incorporation into the F-16 aircraft from a number of different sources, including Members of Parliament, exporters and the general public. No UK export licences have been issued for the export of F-16 aircraft to Israel.

Gas Storage Facilities

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her answer of 21 October 2002, which local planning authorities have been contacted this year by her Department regarding new gas storage facilities; and what responses have been received.

Brian Wilson: The two councils to which the Department has written this year are Cheshire County Council and Wyre Borough Council. I understand that Cheshire County Council refused planning permission for the proposed gas storage facility at Byley, and that the applicant has now taken this to appeal I also understand that a planning application has not yet been submitted in respect of the other project, at Fleetwood in Lancashire.

Iraq (Exports)

Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what goods on the Military List have recently been approved for export to Iraq.

Nigel Griffiths: For details of goods on the Military List that have been approved for export to Iraq between 1 January 2002 and 1 October 2002, I refer my hon. Friend to the reply from my right hon. Friend the Member for Neath (Mr. Hain) to my hon. Friend the Member for Coventry, North-West (Mr. Robinson) on 21 January 2002, Official Report, columns 578–79W, and to the replies from my hon. Friend the Member for Rotherham (Mr. MacShane) to my hon. Friends the Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr (Mr. Mahmood) on 18 June 2002, Official Report, columns 296–97W, and the Member for Lancaster and Wyre (Mr. Dawson) on 16 October 2002, Official Report, column 833W.

Limited Companies

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many limited companies were incorporated between (a) 1 April and 30 June and (b) in the same quarter in 2001.

Melanie Johnson: There were 64,838 companies registered from April to June in 2002, and 52,196 for the same period in 2001.

NETA

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she will publish a review of the operation of NETA.

Brian Wilson: Ofgem have published a review of the first year of NETA's operation. We are currently considering it

Nuclear Power Stations (Radiation Leaks)

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many radiation leaks there have been from each UK nuclear power station and nuclear reprocessing plant in each of the last 20 years.

Brian Wilson: The Quarterly Statements of Nuclear Incidents at Nuclear Installations include information on radioactive leaks of any significance.
	The Statements are compiled by the Nuclear Safety Directorate of the Health and Safety Executive and have been sent to the House of Commons Library since 1977.

Petrol Retail Industry

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations she has received from independent petrol retailers to investigate competition in the petrol retail industry; and if she will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: My hon. Friend the Minister for Energy and Construction has received representations concerning competition issues in the petrol retailing industry during 2002. The Minister held a Downstream Oil Industry Forum in July to discuss in particular the issue of rural petrol stations. Representatives of all major oil companies and large independent supermarkets attended. A further meeting is planned for November, and it is his intention to maintain a regular dialogue through this forum in order to address issues of concern.

Regulations Summits

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the two regulations summits took place between the Small Business Service and business representative organisations; and if she will list the organisations that attended.

Nigel Griffiths: The summits between the SBS Regulation team and business representatives were held on 1 November 2001 and 27 February 2002.
	Invitees for the seminars were: British Chambers of Commerce; Confederation of British Industry; Federation of Small Businesses; Forum of Private Business; Institute of Directors; Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales; and the Small Business Council
	A subsequent DTI stakeholder seminar on regulation was held with a similar audience on 16 October 2002.

Small Business Service

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on her Department's plans to hold a Small Business Week in 2002.

Nigel Griffiths: Small businesses contribute 40 per cent. to our GDP and together have an annual turnover of one trillion pounds. They employ 12 million people in the UK, which is around 55 per cent. of the private sector workforce, so we promote SMEs every week of the year.
	The Small Business Service is sponsoring The Sunday Times National Small Business Week. This major event will take place at Earls Court Exhibition Centre London on 28–30 April 2003. The organisers describe it as Xa true celebration of entrepreneurship", focusing on the day-to-day issues of running a small business, assisting them to gain more of a competitive edge with the final aim of increasing profitability.

Small Business Service

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the outcomes of the regulation summits held between the Small Business Service and key stakeholders, including the list of potential projects which it was agreed would be considered in greater detail.

Nigel Griffiths: The meetings enabled a useful dialogue with small business representative bodies and provided an opportunity for business representatives to feed their regulatory concerns direct to Ministers.
	On 16 October, discussions were held on a number of issues of importance to small firms; in particular on alternatives to regulation, the small firms impact test, the small firms start up resource pack and DTI consultation.
	Officials and business representatives agreed to work together on these important issues to deliver benefits to businesses right across the country.

Small Business Service

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress is being made by the Small Business Service in identifying a possible system for assisting small firms affected by disaster, as outlined in the Government's response to the Small Business Council's second annual report.

Nigel Griffiths: The Small Business Service has researched the issues arising out of establishing such a fund and the potential form(s) of assistance given to businesses affected by disasters in England. The devolved authorities are responsible for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
	Officials have reviewed the scheme operated by the USA's Small Business Administration, which provides loans to financially viable enterprises in the event of such a disaster and considered the extent to which that model, or other models, would be applicable in England.
	Work in this area is being reviewed in light of the announcement on 18 September 2002, by the Commission of the European Communities, of its proposal to establish a European Union Solidarity Fund. This fund is to be focused on giving immediate financial assistance to help the people, regions and countries affected by major natural, technological or environmental disasters.

Small Businesses

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures she has taken to support small businesses in Romford.

Nigel Griffiths: Business Link for London, working with local partners including Havering Council, is the main conduit for the Government's support to Romford's 7,000 small businesses. The Business Link for London has helped over 850 of these in a wide variety of ways.
	The BL services for small and medium sized businesses is available by phone,through the web, or through one of our 200 business advisors. These Business advisers work directly with clients to offer pragmatic advice in support of new and existing businesses. They help solve problems, ease the growing pains of success, or help take a business to the next level of its development.
	Expert advice and support is provided in IT, Finance, Sales and Marketing, Human Resources, Design, International Trade, e-business. Supply Chain, Innovation,Franchising, Creative Industries, Manufacturing and more recently, Sustainable Business and Social Enterprise.
	Within the London Borough of Havering, Romford's small businesses benefit from the Borough-wide distribution by the BLfL of regularly undated information oncurrent issues such as legislation changes, funded schemes and the availability of sector specific support.
	ELSBC in conjunction with Havering Council and Natwest Bank has formed an alliance to run a programme of business support within the borough. This support consists of providing business counselling for people considering starting up new businesses in Havering, the provision of a 4-Day business training course and post-start counselling and mentoring. For the business counselling sessions, the counsellor will meet clients at two Havering locations—Romford and Harold Hill—with Harold Hill being subject to additional SRB funding.

Small Businesses

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action she will take to ensure that small businesses are aware of their employees' rights; and if she will make a statement on recent related research by her Department.

Nigel Griffiths: In May 2002, the DTI published the report of its recent research into small businesses' awareness of employment rights, XSmall Firms' Awareness of Employment Rights" in the Employment Relations Research Series (Report No. 14). This was placed in the Libraries of the House.
	The research was conducted by the Small Business Research Centre at Kingston University. Overall this research showed that confidence levels of small employers about their knowledge of individual rights were low even though awareness of those rights was generally high.
	The Department is acting to raise levels of awareness among small business. We have set up an Employment Information Advice and Guidance project in partnership with ACAS, and the Small Business Service. Starting with the changes introduced in the Employment Act 2002 the project will improve the ways that the information advice and guidance on employment rights is provided to employers and employees with a particular emphasis on the needs of small businesses. The work of the project benefits from the advice of a user group of representatives of employers and employees including representatives of the Small Business Council, the Federation of Small Business and the private business forum and representatives of the main advisory networks.
	Information on these changes and on existing rights is also available on the DTI website www.dti.gov.uk/er. Small firms and other employers can also register with businesslink.org to receive e-mail updates on changes to employment law.

Wind Farms

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the reply, 17 October 2002, Official Report, c. 891W, on wind farms, when she expects the UK windspeed database to be available on the departmental website; and whether her Department is collaborating with the ODPM in respect of brownfield site availability.

Brian Wilson: The UK windspeed database has now been made available on the DTI website at http://www.dti.gov.uk/renewable/windspeed/online.html
	My officials are collaborating with the ODPM on revisions to planning policy guidelines concerning renewable energy projects. The final planning policy statement should be made available in the first half of 2003 and will apply to all areas of England, including brownfield sites.
	Information on brownfield site availability in England by region is contained in the ODPM Statistical Release BF-2002 of 12 September 2002, which is on the ODPM and National Land Use Database websites.
	Planning Policy Wales (March 2002) encourages brownfield development wherever feasible. The Wales Planning Research Programme 2002–03 proposes further research on brownfield land following the completion of an earlier project, XA Feasibility Study to Establish a System for Monitoring the Supply and re-use of Previously Developed Land".

TRANSPORT

Air Transport (Manchester)

Keith Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultation meetings have been held in the Manchester area regarding the future development of air transport in the UK; and which (a) organisations, (b) hon. Members and (c) other people were invited to the meetings.

John Spellar: holding answer 28 October 2002
	A public exhibition on the potential impacts of growth at Manchester airport was held on 14 October in Knutsford. The exhibition was open to anyone who wished to attend and was publicised in the local press and on the local radio stations. In conjunction with this, a number of key people from the areas most likely to be directly impacted by growth at Manchester were invited to a breakfast briefing. The invitees included the relevant MPs from the immediate area, MEPs, Council Leaders, local authority Chief Executives, Chairs of the Planning and Transport Committees and Chamber of Commerce Chief Executives. A further public exhibition will be held on 15 November at The Village, Cheadle.
	In addition, officials from this Department and the Government Office for the north-west have met with the Manchester Airport Air Transport Forum and the Manchester Users' Consultative Committee. They are also participating in a number of topic workshops for both the north-west region specifically and the North of England as a whole, to which a wide range of stakeholder groups have been invited. These include representatives from, inter alia, airports, airlines, local authorities, transport providers (such as the Highways Agency, Railtrack etc.) local business fora, regional and national environmental groups.

Birmingham Airport

John Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will withdraw the option for a second runway at Birmingham Airport.

David Jamieson: The Government intend to publish an air transport White Paper next year which will set a policy framework for aviation and airports in the UK over the next 30 years. In support of this White Paper we are consulting on a range of options, including the development of a second runway at Birmingham. We are inviting views on the arguments for and against providing different amounts of new airport capacity at different locations, including several options in the Midlands.
	It is our aim to ensure that any development is sustainable and achieves a balance between economic, social and environmental considerations. All responses received will be considered carefully before taking any final decisions on the policies for the White Paper.

Birmingham Airport

John Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of (a) the viability of and (b) the need for lengthening the existing runway at Birmingham Airport.

David Jamieson: Our background studies identified airport capacity constraints in the Midlands before 2030. Therefore, we have considered options for development at Birmingham International Airport, on which we are currently consulting.

Cars (Taxes and Licences)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 21 October, Official Report, column 27W, how many local authorities have joined the scheme in using DVLA powers to wheelclamp and impound untaxed vehicles since the pilot in the London Borough of Newham.

David Jamieson: Following the Secretary of State's announcement on 10 April, Newham, Lewisham, Wandsworth and Croydon have undertaken clamping and impounding unlicensed vehicles using devolved powers as DVLA's partners. Southend on Sea and Hastings have completed all the training and are due to commence operations shortly.
	In addition the DVLA is giving free on-line access to the vehicles record to local authorities seeking information on keepers of those who abandon their cars. 200 local authorities have asked for this facility. The roll-out of this initiative started on 1 October and to date, 19 are confirmed as being on-line. The remainder will be set up as soon as possible.

Departmental Logo

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much it cost to redesign the Department's logo and subsequent changes to Departmental stationery and documentation following the name change from DETR to Department of Transport; and whether outside bodies were involved in the creative process.

David Jamieson: My Department has spent a nominal sum of less than 25,000, from within existing budgets, to make the required changes to the departmental logo, stationery, signage and web site design. The work was carried out by contractors under our normal framework agreements for design and print of paper and electronic publications.

Detrunking Programme

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the detrunking programme will end; and what additional resources will be made available to local highways authorities in (a) England and Wales, (b) North Yorkshire and (c) the City of York to cover their additional responsibilities from that time.

David Jamieson: It is planned to end the current detrunking programme in 2006 and the timing of the integration of the detrunked roads into the local government finance system is currently under consideration.

Firefighters' Strike

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration has been given by his Department to reducing the national speed limits on roads during the firefighters' strike; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: There are no plans to reduce the national speed limit.

Health and Safety Commission

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment has been made by and for his Department of the performance of the Health and Safety Executive including recent performance targets; what reports have been published on its performance; and if he will place copies of such reports not readily available in the Library.[Transferred]

Nick Brown: I have been asked to reply.
	Responsibility for the Health and Safety Commission and Health and Safety Executive transferred to the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) on 24 July
	2002.
	The former Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR) Public Service Agreement for 2000 set a number of targets for the Health and Safety Commission and Health and Safety Executive, and these are published in the former DTLR 2002 Annual Report. Progress against these targets is reported in the DTLR Annual Report on page 166.
	Further information on progress against performance targets will also be included in the DWP Autumn Performance Report to be published in November.

Road Schemes

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many schemes are in place on motorways in the UK where use is allowed of the hard shoulder during rush hours; and what plans he has to increase this number.

John Spellar: There are at present no instances of the hard shoulder being used during rush hours in England. A forthcoming project on the M42 (the Active Traffic Management (ATM) Project) will trial the use of hard shoulder running at peak periods and at other times to help reduce congestion. The trial between Junction 3A (the M40) and Junction 7 (the M6) and will be subject to rigorous safety requirements. For the devolved Administrations, this is a matter for the National Assembly for Wales, the Scottish Executive and the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Road Traffic Accidents

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will meet the Red Cross and St John Ambulance Brigade to discuss third party liability insurance for people who stop to help at a road traffic accident.

David Jamieson: The Red Cross and St John's Ambulance Brigade do very good work. If they have concerns about third party liability insurance they should, in the first instance, set them out in writing to officials at this Department.

South Central Line

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the latest timetable is for the upgrade to the South Central line.

David Jamieson: Negotiations between the SRA and Go Via are continuing towards the new franchise, which will deliver new trains, station upgrades and information systems. A separate substantial programme of track and signalling improvements will now be led by the Authority, to ensure effective completion as early as possible.

Tonnage Tax

Ivan Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which UK shipping companies have benefited from the tonnage tax since its introduction.

David Jamieson: This information is commercially confidential and is exempt from disclosure under Section 13 of Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Tree Removal

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will require Railtrack to consult local authorities on removal of trees from the trackside.

David Jamieson: holding answer 28 October 2002
	No. This is an operational matter for Network Rail.

Trust Ports

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which trust ports have appointed representatives of local authorities in that capacity to their boards since the publication of the Modernising Trust Ports review.

David Jamieson: My Department does not hold details of individual appointments made to trust port boards, other than those made by the Secretary of State.

West Coast Main Line

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been given to Virgin Trains as compensation for the late completion of the West Coast main line upgrade.

David Jamieson: No compensation has been paid by Government to Virgin Trains. Railtrack and Virgin Trains have a contractual relationship covering the upgrade of the West Coast Main Line. Any payments from Railtrack to Virgin Trains under this contract are for delays in the upgrade of the infrastructure and for consequent loss of business.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Child Support Agency

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what measures are in place to ensure that an absent parent pays child maintenance; and what action is taken if they do not make the necessary payments.

Malcolm Wicks: The administration of the Child Support agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Mike Isaac to Mr. James Wray, dated October 2002
	The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in replying to your recent parliamentary questions about the Child Support Agency promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive. I am replying on his behalf.
	You ask what measures are in place to ensure that an absent parent pays child
	maintenance; and what action is taken if they do not make the necessary payments.
	Where a maintenance application is actioned we will normally try to contact the non resident parent by telephone with a view to both obtaining the information that we need to make a maintenance assessment and reminding the parent of their maintenance responsibilities.
	If all necessary information is not provided we will follow up in writing, at interview and then by taking criminal proceedings and / or by establishing an interim maintenance assessment.
	If payment is not made and the non-resident parent is in employment we will usually seek to recover maintenance through the employer by a deductions from earnings order. If the non-resident parent is in receipt of certain benefits then we can make a maintenance deduction from there.
	If payment is not made and the non-resident parent is self-employed we will seek a liability order through the Magistrates Court to establish the debt. We can then take proceedings which could include applying for a third party debt order, a charging order, bailiff action, removal of a driving license and for committal to prison.

Cold Weather Payments

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the outcome was of the annual review of the Cold Weather Payments scheme.

Malcolm Wicks: Following advice from the Meteorological Office, the annual review of the Cold Weather Payments scheme has now been completed. Amending regulations were laid on 10 October and will come into force on 1 November, in time for the beginning of the winter period.
	In addition to the amendments necessary due to Royal Mail postcode changes, 10 postcode to weather station linkages have been changed on the advice of the Meteorological Office following representations made by hon. Members.
	Cold Weather Payments are separate from, and in addition to, Winter Fuel Payments which are paid to eligible people from age 60.
	I have written to each of the hon. Members affected by the changes.

Disability Living Allowance

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many DLA application refusals there were in each of the last 10 years; and how many of those refusals were later successfully appealed against.

Maria Eagle: The information requested is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.
	
		Number of rejected Disability Living Allowance claims for the past 10 financial years
		
			  Number of DLA applicants rejected on first application  
		
		
			 1992–93 208,730 
			 1993–94 213,440 
			 1994–95 256,410 
			 1995–96 255,280 
			 1996–97 276,125 
			 1997–98 255,710 
			 1998–99 208,200 
			 1999–2000 190,390 
			 2000–01 206,145 
			 2001–02 192,320 
		
	
	Note:
	Initial claim rejected information is available only at national level.
	Source:
	ASD Information Centre 100 per cent. data taken from 100 per cent. extract of monthly management information system and rounded to the nearest five.
	The information requested regarding successful appeal against refusal is not available.

Health and Safety Executive

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people are employed by the Health and Safety Executive; what its annual budget was for each year since 1997–98; what its projected budget is for next year; and if he will make a statement on its role and terms of reference.

Nick Brown: The number of people employed by the Health and Safety Executive and its annual budget for each year since 1997–98 was:
	
		
			 Year HSC/E settlement (#) Staff in post(30)  
		
		
			 Cash settlements 
			 1997–98 180,957,000 3,932 
			 1998–99 182,228,000 3,880 
			 1999–2000 186,855,000 3,937 
			 2000–01 191,409,000 3,894 
			  
			  Resource settlements from 2001–02 onwards 
			 2001–02 (31) 198,233,000 4,050 
			 2002–03 (32) 202,973,000 4,217 
		
	
	(30) As at end of year (31 March)
	(31) Plus AME #12,377,000
	(32) Plus AME #14,212,000
	Notes:
	1. All figures include the Health and Safety Commission (HSC), The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Health and Safety Laboratory (HSL). HSL is an in house agency of HSE.
	2. HSC/E settlement figures represent expenditure net of income. Capital budgets are included.
	3. From 2001–02 Government Departments moved to a resource based supply as part of the move to full resource accounting and budgeting (RAB). There is however a transitional period for 2001–02 to 2002–03 during which period certain expenditure (e.g. depreciation, notional capital charges) are to be dealt with as Annually Managed Expenditure (AME) and will not appear in the departmental expenditure limit (DEL).
	4. The figures above from 1997–98 to 2000–01 are on a cash supply basis; and from 2001–02 on a resource supply basis. Additional budgets for AME budgets are shown separately.
	HSE's projected budget (net of income) for 2003–04 is #216,727,000 plus #14,998,000 which would have been recorded against AME in the transitional period (total #231,725,000).
	The Health and Safety Executive is empowered to undertake, on behalf of the Health and Safety Commission, any of the functions of the Commission as it is directed. It is also required to give effect to any directions given to it by the Commission. Section 11 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 details the general functions of the Commission, which must be seen in the context of the general purposes outlined in section 1 of the Act. All of these functions may be undertaken by the Executive.

Maternity Benefits

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what benefits are available to individuals not entitled to maternity benefit because of an insufficient contributory history.

Maria Eagle: We introduced reforms in 2000 so that entitlement to Maternity Allowance no longer depends on the payment of national insurance contributions. Qualifying conditions for both Statutory Maternity Pay and Maternity Allowance are based instead on a woman's recent employment and earnings history.
	Maternity Allowance is now paid to women earning at least #30 a week, but below the lower earnings limit for national insurance contributions (currently #75 a week). As a result, up to 16,000 more low paid women a year can receive improved financial help during their pregnancy.
	Sure Start Maternity Grants, worth #500, are also available to help those mothers on low income in greatest need.

Pensioners Resident in Hospitals (Benefits)

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will extend the lengths of time which elapse before benefits are reduced for a pensioner resident in hospital.

Malcolm Wicks: We have already announced our intentions to extend the length of time certain benefit recipients, including pensioners, may stay in hospital before their benefits are reduced. For these people the period will be extended from six weeks to 13 weeks and we hope to introduce this to coincide with the introduction of the State Pension Credit.

Widowed Spouses Pensions (Remarriage)

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on the loss of widows' and widowers' pension entitlement on remarriage.

Malcolm Wicks: Bereavement Allowance and Widowed Parents Allowance are available to both men and women of working age who are widowed. The predecessor benefits, Widow's Pension and Widowed Mother's Allowance, were available to women only up to a maximum age of 65. Entitlement to these benefits ends if a widow or widower remarries. This is because they are intended to provide financial support in widowhood and are designed to help the widowed spouse maintain him or herself and any dependant children in the absence of the deceased spouse's income.
	If a widow or widower remarries they are treated, for benefit purposes, in the same way as members of any other married couple. Other social security benefits or tax credits may be available to help support the new family depending on their circumstances.

LORD CHANCELLOR

Strategic Investment Board

Valerie Davey: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when the Lord Chancellor's Strategic Investment Board's Annual Report for 2001–02 will be published.

Rosie Winterton: Copies of the Strategic Investment Board's first Annual Report, covering the period from 1 January 2001 to 31 March 2002 have now been published. Copies are now available in the Library of the House and via the Lord Chancellor's Department's website at www.lcd.gov.uk. This provides full details of the Board's achievements for that period and its recommendations for future investment strategies for the Public Guardianship Office.